Abstract:
Non-suspended microalgal cultivation methods have gained an interest over the last decade. In contrast to traditional cultivation systems, where microalgae are grown in highly diluted suspensions, microalgae grow concentrated in biofilms over a particular substrate. Growth in biofilms gives higher biomass concentrations of end products and decreases overall water and energy consumption.
However, there are research gaps in the field of biofilm formation and growth. The studies on material and strain properties and their effects on microbial attachment are very limited. So far, a small number of strains and materials have been tested, leading to many contradictory conclusions. In this thesis the primary colonisation of 36 material-strain pairings was tested and related to topographical and physicochemical properties of substrates. Experimental data was also confronted against properties of microalgal strains. Further microalgal biofilm development in aerial conditions, and its relation to substrate properties, was analysed for the first time.
To address some of the sustainability issues associated with microalgal cultivation, a novel Humid Biofilm-Based Reactor (HBBR) was also proposed. This novel method focused on growing microalgae in a humid atmosphere enriched with nutrients. The natural phenomenon of biofilm development in aerial humid conditions was a working principle of the system, resulting in higher biomass concentrations than in other non-suspended reactors proposed so far. Using mist instead of a liquid medium significantly minimised the water consumption. No presence of a liquid medium in the reactor enabled easier maintenance of the system and improved light distribution. Growth trial in this novel reactor and its comparison to reference systems showed that HBBR was a promising way of culturing microalgae with higher growth rates, lower water and nutrient consumption, more effective light distribution and easier maintenance of the system.
