Mass scale production of microalgae

Genus/species Culture system/ volume Mode Light/T conditions Productivity (mg DW L day ) Reference 

muelleri Glass flat-plate PBR 300 L sc Nat./26°C (daytime) 150 + 20 Zhang and Richmond, 2003 

PBR = photobioreactor SC = semi-continuous C = continuous B = batch Nat. = natural light Art. = artificial light. 

The above-mentioned systems are generally considered low technology, but remain those of choice by most hatcheries because of their ease of use and maintenance, general reliability and low capital cost (or, in the case of bags, low replacement cost). However, these systems are typically characterised by low cell densities and productivities, i.e. for aquaculture strains often below 100 mg DW microalgae Ud compared to small volume cultures, or other PBR systems with significantly higher SA V (Table 4.3 and Tredici et aL, 2009). Examples of PBRs include tubular (serpentine. 

More comprehensive reviews on the different PBR and open culture systems are given in other publications (Chaumont, 1993 Borowitzka, 1999 Tredici, 2004 Zmora and Richmond, 2004). 

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