Abstract
Low productivity of microalgal cultures leads to a high cost of the fuel feedstock. Turbidostat operation, which automatically monitors and controls biomass density, is a mean to manage biomass density and internal light intensity, so that biomass productivity can be maximized. Available versions of turbidostat control are expensive and not amenable to large-scale operation. We designed a system that costs less than $250 and that can be used for any type of microbiological system. It includes an in-line, infrared turbidity sensor connected to an Arduino ATmega microcontroller and auxiliary power replays. The target biomass density is adjustable, and key operating data – such as time stamps, pump status, and set and measured values of biomass density – are available in real time and logged continuously. The sensor's output was linear for OD730 from 0.5 to 4.5, which brackets the realistic ranges for microalgae culturing. We tested the turbidostat with step-down and step-up experiments with Synechocystis cultures. The turbidostat maintained stable biomass concentrations for all steps. The results of the turbidostat experiments demonstrated how turbidity control leads to systematic management of average internal light intensity, specific growth rate, and biomass production rate. This open-design, low-cost system should promote higher productivity and help make microalgae biomass an affordable fuel feedstock.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 101-106 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Algal Research |
| Volume | 32 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- Biomass density
- Low-cost in-line sensor
- Microalgae
- Turbidostat
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agronomy and Crop Science
Cite this
Low-cost optical sensor to automatically monitor and control biomass concentration in microalgal cultivation. / Nguyen, Binh T.; Rittmann, Bruce.
In: Algal Research, Vol. 32, 01.06.2018, p. 101-106.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Low-cost optical sensor to automatically monitor and control biomass concentration in microalgal cultivation
AU - Nguyen, Binh T.
AU - Rittmann, Bruce
PY - 2018/6/1
Y1 - 2018/6/1
N2 - Low productivity of microalgal cultures leads to a high cost of the fuel feedstock. Turbidostat operation, which automatically monitors and controls biomass density, is a mean to manage biomass density and internal light intensity, so that biomass productivity can be maximized. Available versions of turbidostat control are expensive and not amenable to large-scale operation. We designed a system that costs less than $250 and that can be used for any type of microbiological system. It includes an in-line, infrared turbidity sensor connected to an Arduino ATmega microcontroller and auxiliary power replays. The target biomass density is adjustable, and key operating data – such as time stamps, pump status, and set and measured values of biomass density – are available in real time and logged continuously. The sensor's output was linear for OD730 from 0.5 to 4.5, which brackets the realistic ranges for microalgae culturing. We tested the turbidostat with step-down and step-up experiments with Synechocystis cultures. The turbidostat maintained stable biomass concentrations for all steps. The results of the turbidostat experiments demonstrated how turbidity control leads to systematic management of average internal light intensity, specific growth rate, and biomass production rate. This open-design, low-cost system should promote higher productivity and help make microalgae biomass an affordable fuel feedstock.
AB - Low productivity of microalgal cultures leads to a high cost of the fuel feedstock. Turbidostat operation, which automatically monitors and controls biomass density, is a mean to manage biomass density and internal light intensity, so that biomass productivity can be maximized. Available versions of turbidostat control are expensive and not amenable to large-scale operation. We designed a system that costs less than $250 and that can be used for any type of microbiological system. It includes an in-line, infrared turbidity sensor connected to an Arduino ATmega microcontroller and auxiliary power replays. The target biomass density is adjustable, and key operating data – such as time stamps, pump status, and set and measured values of biomass density – are available in real time and logged continuously. The sensor's output was linear for OD730 from 0.5 to 4.5, which brackets the realistic ranges for microalgae culturing. We tested the turbidostat with step-down and step-up experiments with Synechocystis cultures. The turbidostat maintained stable biomass concentrations for all steps. The results of the turbidostat experiments demonstrated how turbidity control leads to systematic management of average internal light intensity, specific growth rate, and biomass production rate. This open-design, low-cost system should promote higher productivity and help make microalgae biomass an affordable fuel feedstock.
KW - Biomass density
KW - Low-cost in-line sensor
KW - Microalgae
KW - Turbidostat
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85044522091&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85044522091&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.algal.2018.03.013
DO - 10.1016/j.algal.2018.03.013
M3 - Article
VL - 32
SP - 101
EP - 106
JO - Algal Research
JF - Algal Research
SN - 2211-9264
ER -