Aufbau, Inbetriebnahme und Kultivierungsversuche von Mikroalgen in einem Forschungsphotobioreaktor

This master’s thesis deals with the setup, start-up and microalgae cultivation experiments in a research photobioreactor system which was planned and implemented in collaboration with ecoduna AG at the Montanuniversität Leoben. The installed photobioreactor contains 135 litres algae suspension and consists of 14 vertically arranged glass tubes with a diameter of 6.5 cm each and an overall height of 3.9 m. A carrier gas flow transports air bubbles through the glass tubes, which leads to a loop shaped flow (airlift). In addition to the setup on site, an artificial illumination system was designed and implemented and a control system as well as the logging of important process parameters like the pH value, CO2-dosing, illumination intensity and cleaning cycles were programmed (Lookout). After the implementation of the system, the algae Chlorella minutissima was cultivated over several weeks in a continuous operation (starting culture provided by ecoduna). Depending on the biomass concentration, algae suspension was harvested after distinct periods of algae cultivation. The algal biomass was separated from the harvesting solution by flocculation with commercially available flocculation agents and subsequently dried. On the whole, 110 g biomass were produced during the cultivation experiments.