Optimizing culture conditions for heterotrophic-assisted photoautotrophic biofilm growth of Chlorella vulgaris to simultaneously improve microalgae biomass and lipid productivity

Abstract

In order to solve the technical bottleneck that the biomass yield and lipid accumulation cannot be increased simultaneously during microalgae growth, a heterotrophic-assisted photoautotrophic biofilm (HAPB) growth mode of Chlorella vulgaris was constructed. The light penetration capability of the microalgae biofilm formed through heterotrophic-assisted photoautotrophic growth was 64% stronger than that formed by photoautotrophic growth. Due to the different demands of autotrophic and heterotrophic growth of microalgae, the nutrient environment and growth conditions were optimized to fully utilize the advantages and potentials of the HAPB culture model. An optimized molar ratio of total inorganic carbon (CO₂) to total organic carbon (glucose) (20:1) and a molar ratio of total carbon to total nitrogen (72:1) were obtained. The maximum specific growth rate of Chlorella vulgaris increased by 78% compared to that before optimization. Meanwhile, the lipid content and yield increased by 120% and 147%, respectively, up to 47.53% and 41.95 g m^-2.

Keywords: Heterotrophic-assisted photoautotrophic; Light penetration; Lipid production; Microalgae biofilm; Nutrients optimization.