LAPSE:2023.23017
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.23017
Real-Time Monitoring of Microalgal Biomass in Pilot-Scale Photobioreactors Using Nephelometry
Eli S. J. Thoré, Floris Schoeters, Jornt Spit, Sabine Van Miert
March 27, 2023
The increasing cultivation of microalgae in photobioreactors warrants efficient and non-invasive methods to quantify biomass density in real time. Nephelometric turbidity assessment, a method that measures light scatter by particles in suspension, was introduced already several decades ago but was only recently validated as a high-throughput tool to monitor microalgae biomass. The light scatter depends on the density of the suspended particles as well as on their physical properties, but so far there are hardly any accounts on how nephelometric assessment relates to classic methods such as dry weight and spectrophotometric measurement across a broad biomass density range for different microalgae species. Here, we monitored biomass density online and in real time during the semi-continuous cultivation of three commercial microalgae species Chloromonas typhlos, Microchloropsis gaditana and Porphyridium purpureum in pilot-scale photobioreactors, and relate nephelometric turbidity to dry weight and optical density. The results confirm a relatively strong (R2 = 0.87−0.93) and nonlinear relationship between turbidity and biomass density that differs among the three species. Overall, we demonstrate how nephelometry can be used to monitor microalgal biomass in photobioreactors, and provide the necessary means to estimate the biomass density of the studied species from turbidity data to facilitate automated biomass monitoring.
Keywords
algal cultivation, automation, biotechnology, cell density, microalgae, NTU, turbidity
Suggested Citation
Thoré ESJ, Schoeters F, Spit J, Van Miert S. Real-Time Monitoring of Microalgal Biomass in Pilot-Scale Photobioreactors Using Nephelometry. (2023). LAPSE:2023.23017
Author Affiliations
Thoré ESJ: Radius, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Kleinhoefstraat 4, 2440 Geel, Belgium
Schoeters F: Radius, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Kleinhoefstraat 4, 2440 Geel, Belgium
Spit J: Radius, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Kleinhoefstraat 4, 2440 Geel, Belgium
Van Miert S: Radius, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Kleinhoefstraat 4, 2440 Geel, Belgium
Journal Name
Processes
Volume
9
Issue
9
First Page
1530
Year
2021
Publication Date
2021-08-28
Published Version
ISSN
2227-9717
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Original Submission
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PII: pr9091530, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2023.23017
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doi:10.3390/pr9091530
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Mar 27, 2023
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