Efficient microalgae-based carbon capture through optimisation of mixing mechanisms in flat panel photobioreactors

A self-built 10 L flat panel photobioreactor (PBR) cultivation setup was designed to improve microalgae growth rates. This setup was integrated with a fully automated control and monitoring system. The cultivation of microalgae species, Chlorella sorokiniana, was performed with customised gas spargers as mixing mechanisms under CO2 conditions for carbon capture. These spargers were positioned in a novel double sparger orientation. To reduce electricity consumption, pulsating air addition was proposed where the air flow was turned off for 10 seconds in every 30 seconds. The cultivation was also subjected to continuous cultivation mode via turbdiostat for carbon capture optimisation.