Sufficient CO2 concentration is crucial for high biomass formation of marine microalgae

Paper i proceeding, 2015

The effect of low and high CO2 concentration for the growth of marine green microalgae genera Chlorella and Picochlorum were investigated. Chlorella sp. A, Chlorella sp. B, Chlorella sp. C and Picochlorum sp. strains were grown in a batch culture under 20:4 hours of light:dark photoperiods and with either 0.035 % (ambient air) or 2.0 % of CO2 supply. Picochlorum sp. and Chlorella sp. C achieved the highest maximum growth rate (d-1) 1.06 and 1.05, respectively, when cultured with a high CO2 supply (2.0 %). Cultures supplied with low CO2 (0.035 %), did not enter into exponential growth phase, but formed biomass in a steady linear growth pattern, suggesting significant carbon limitation. Thus, it is clear that the supply of CO2 is critical for high rates of microalgal biomass production, and optimal CO2 ¬supply rate should be identified that also improves carbohydrate formation.