Adjusted light and dark cycles can optimize photosynthetic efficiency in algae growing in photobioreactors.

ABSTRACT: Biofuels from algae are highly interesting as renewable energy sources to replace, at least partially, fossil fuels, but great research efforts are still needed to optimize growth parameters to develop competitive large-scale cultivation systems. One factor with a seminal influence on productivity is light availability. Light energy fully supports algal growth, but it leads to oxidative stress if illumination is in excess. In this work, the influence of light intensity on the growth and lipid productivity of Nannochloropsis salina was investigated in a flat-bed photobioreactor designed to minimize cells self-shading. The influence of various light intensities was studied with both continuous illumination and alternation of light and dark cycles at various frequencies, which mimic illuminat

SUBMITTER: Sforza E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3380057 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature