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Lab-scale photobioreactor systems: principles, applications, and scalability.

Philipp Benner1, Lisa Meier2, Annika Pfeffer2

  • 1Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Chair of Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Engineering and Design, Boltzmannstraße 15, 85748, Garching, Germany.

Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering
|March 18, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Microalgae and cyanobacteria cultivation in photobioreactors is key for environmental solutions and producing valuable compounds. This review details laboratory-scale photobioreactor designs for optimizing microalgal and cyanobacterial bioprocesses.

Keywords:
Lab-scale reactorsMicroalgaePhotobioreactorScale-up

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Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology
  • Environmental Science
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Phototrophic microorganisms like microalgae and cyanobacteria offer solutions for environmental issues and produce valuable bioactive compounds.
  • Cultivation occurs at various scales, from large open ponds to closed photobioreactors.
  • Laboratory-scale photobioreactors are crucial for research and development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and compare different laboratory-scale photobioreactor designs for phototrophic cultivation.
  • To provide recommendations for selecting and operating photobioreactors during process scale-up.
  • To highlight the importance of photobioreactor design in optimizing microalgal and cyanobacterial bioprocesses.

Main Methods:

  • Review of various laboratory-scale photobioreactor designs, including microtiter plates, microfluidic devices, shake flasks, bubble column reactors, flat plate bioreactors, stirred-tank bioreactors, tubular photobioreactors, and open systems (raceway ponds, thin-layer cascades).
  • Discussion of the advantages and limitations of each design for specific applications.
  • Analysis of scale-down models and less common designs like illuminated plastic bags and aquarium tanks.

Main Results:

  • Different photobioreactor designs offer unique advantages for specific research needs, such as high-throughput studies (microtiter plates, microfluidics), controlled conditions (stirred-tank), or uniform light (flat plate).
  • Scale-down models are valuable for bridging laboratory findings to industrial applications.
  • Challenges in up-scaling, particularly light-related issues, are associated with certain low-cost designs.

Conclusions:

  • The selection of an appropriate laboratory-scale photobioreactor is critical for successful microalgal and cyanobacterial cultivation and process development.
  • Understanding the specific requirements of the bioprocess and the capabilities of different photobioreactor designs is essential for optimizing cultivation and enabling effective scale-up.
  • Further research into photobioreactor design and operation is needed to overcome scale-up challenges.