Towards industrial production of microalgae without temperature control: The effect of diel temperature fluctuations on microalgal physiology

Robin Barten; Yovita Djohan; Wendy Evers; Rene Wijffels; Maria Barbosa

doi:10.1016/j.jbiotec.2021.06.017

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Towards industrial production of microalgae without temperature control: The effect of diel temperature fluctuations on microalgal physiology

Journal article

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Towards industrial production of microalgae without temperature control: The effect of diel temperature fluctuations on microalgal physiology

Robin Barten, Yovita Djohan, Wendy Evers, Rene Wijffels and Maria Barbosa

Journal of biotechnology, Vol.336, pp.56-63

08/10/2021

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2021.06.017

PMID: 34146615

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Abstract

•Microalgae growth in photobioreactors is impacted by diel temperature cycles.•Picochlorum sp. (BPE23) showed growth up to a peak day temperature of 47.5 °C.•Maximum productivity was achieved with a daily peak temperature of 40 °C. Regions that offer high levels of sunlight are ideal to produce microalgae. However, as a result of high light intensities, the temperature in photobioreactors can reach temperatures up to 50 °C. Control of temperature is essential to avoid losses on biomass productivity but should be limited to a minimum to avoid high energy requirements for cooling. Our objective is to develop a production process in which cooling is not required. We studied the behaviour of thermotolerant microalgae Picochlorum sp. (BPE23) under four diel temperature regimes, with peak temperatures from 30 °C up to a maximum of 47.5 °C. The highest growth rate of 0.17 h−1 was obtained when applying a daytime peak temperature of 40 °C. Operating photobioreactors in tropical regions, with a maximal peak temperature of 40 °C, up from 30 °C, reduces microalgae production costs by 26.2 %, based on simulations with a pre-existing techno-economic model. Cell pigmentation was downregulated under increasingly stressful temperatures. The fatty acid composition of cell membranes was altered under increasing temperatures to contain shorter fatty acids with a higher level of saturation. Our findings show that the level of temperature control impacts the biomass yield and composition of the microalgae.

Fatty acid

Microalgae

Photobioreactor

Physiology

Picochlorum

Temperature

Details

Title: Subtitle: Towards industrial production of microalgae without temperature control: The effect of diel temperature fluctuations on microalgal physiology
Creators: Robin Barten - Wageningen University & Research
Yovita Djohan - Wageningen University & Research
Wendy Evers - Bioprocess Engineering & AlgaePARC, Wageningen University and Research, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
Rene Wijffels - Nord University
Maria Barbosa - Wageningen University & Research
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of biotechnology, Vol.336, pp.56-63
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2021.06.017
PMID: 34146615
NLM abbreviation: J Biotechnol
ISSN: 0168-1656
eISSN: 1873-4863
Publisher: Elsevier B.V
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/501100003246, name: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, award: ALWCA.2016.029
Language: English
Date published: 08/10/2021
Academic Unit: International Programs; Spanish and Portuguese
Record Identifier: 9984398008702771

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