Utilization of flue gas for cultivation of microalgae Chlorella sp.) in an outdoor open thin-layer photobioreactor

Flue gas generated by combustion of natural gas in a boiler was used for outdoor cultivation of Chlorella sp. in a 55 m super(2) culture area photobioreactor. A 6 mm thick layer of algal suspension continuously running down the inclined lanes of the bioreactor at 50 cm s super(-1) was exposed to sunlight. Flue gas containing 6-8% by volume of CO sub(2) substituted for more costly pure CO sub(2) as a source of carbon for autotrophic growth of algae. The degree of CO sub(2) mitigation (flue gas decarbonization) in the algal suspension was 10-50% and decreased with increasing flue gas injection rate into the culture. A dissolved CO sub(2) partial pressure (pCO sub(2)) higher than 0.1 kPa was maintained in the suspension at the end of the 50 m long culture area in order to prevent limitation of algal growth by CO sub(2). NO sub(X) and CO gases (up to 45 mg m super(-3) NO sub(X) and 3 mg m super(-3) CO in flue gas) had no negative influence on the growth of the alga. On summer days the following daily net productivities of algae [g (dry weight) m super(-2)] were attained in comparative parallel cultures: flue gas = 19.4-22.8; pure CO sub(2) = 19.1-22.6. Net utilization ( eta ) of the photosynthetically active radiant (PAR) energy was: flue gas = 5.58-6.94%; pure CO sub(2) = 5.49-6.88%. The mass balance of CO sub(2) obtained for the flue gas stream and for the algal suspension was included in a mathematical model, which permitted the calculation of optimum flue gas injection rate into the photobioreactor, dependent on the time course of irradiance and culture temperature. It was estimated that about 50% of flue gas decarbonization can be attained in the photobioreactor and 4.4 kg of CO sub(2) is needed for production of 1 kg (dry weight) algal biomass. A scheme of a combined process of farm unit size is proposed; this includes anaerobic digestion of organic agricultural wastes, production and combustion of biogas, and utilization of flue gas for production of microalgal biomass, which could be used in animal feeds. A preliminary quantitative assessment of the microalgae production is presented.