Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2025
Author Spotlight: Optimizing Growth Factors for Production of Biotechnologically Relevant Secondary Metabolites
Published on: October 25, 2024
A strategy to maximize astaxanthin production from Haematococcus pluvialis in a cost-effective process by utilizing a
Ju Yeon Lee1, Byung Sun Yu1, Won Seok Chang2
1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, South Korea.
Abstract:
This study evaluated economic feasibility through production efficiency, return on investment (ROI) and payout time of a hybrid system using a photobioreactor (PBR)-light guide panel (LGP)-PBR array (PLPA) and solar cells developed for astaxanthin and ω-3 FA simultaneous production of Haematococcus pluvialis. The economic feasibility of the PLPA hybrid system (8 PBRs) and the PBR-PBR-PBR array (PPPA) system (8 PBRs) was evaluated for producing high-value products while effectively reducing CO2. Introducing a PLPA hybrid system has increased the amount of culture per area by 1.6 times. Also, the shading effect was effectively suppressed with an LGP placed between each PBR, increasing biomass and astaxanthin productivity by 3.39-fold and 4.79-fold, respectively compared to the untreated H. pluvialis cultures. In addition, ROI increased by 6.55 and 4.71 times, and the payout time was reduced by 1.34 and 1.37 times, respectively in 10 and 100-ton scale processes.
