COMPARING GROWTH PHASE OF THREE MICROALGAE SPECIES UNDER DIFFERENT ILLUMINATION SOURCES IN A PHOTO-BIOREACTOR (PBR)

The aim of this research was to determine the effects of LED and fluorescent lights on micro-algal growth in a photo-bioreactor (PBR). All parameters and the illumination source (wavelength) were kept the same for the growth of Chlorella kessleri(UTEX 398), Botryococcus braunii(UTEX 572), and Synechococcus leopoliensis(UTEX B 625) microalgae in closed PBRs. Red LED, blue LED and white fluorescent lights were used as the illumination sources for the PBRs. Each light source was used to grow all three algal species. The data collected from the experiments were analyzed using ANOVA. The results, after a period of eight days of growth, showed that red LED light was the most efficient illumination source for producing the highest number of cells with the highest weight. However, additional trials should be carried out in the light dark/cycle to define the most effective illumination sources.