Beneficial re-use of industrial CO2 emissions using microalgae: Demonstration assessment and biomass characterization

Daniel Mohler; Michael H Wilson; Stephanie Kesner; Jenna Y Schambach; Darin Vaughan; Molly Frazar; Jennifer Stewart; Jack Groppo; Robert Pace; Mark Crocker

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122014

Beneficial re-use of industrial CO₂ emissions using microalgae: Demonstration assessment and biomass characterization

Bioresour Technol. 2019 Dec:293:122014. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122014. Epub 2019 Aug 16.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40511, USA.
² College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
³ Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40511, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA.
⁴ Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40511, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA. Electronic address: mark.crocker@uky.edu.

PMID: 31454733
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122014

Abstract

A novel cyclic flow photobioreactor, designed for the capture and recycle of CO₂ using microalgae, was deployed at a coal-fired power plant. Scenedesmus acutus was cultured continuously for a four-month period, during which a biomass productivity of 0.1-0.2 g L^-1 day^-1 was observed. Samples taken for DNA sequencing showed a strong correlation between the composition of the culture and environmental conditions. Dry and liquid biomass samples and the industrial fertilizers used for preparation of the nutrient medium were analyzed to determine the presence of heavy metals (As, Cd, Hg, Se) and results were compared with standardized and/or regulated maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for metals in several possible algae derived products. Concentrations of the metals in dry algae biomass were consistent with the incorporation of metals from the supplied nutrients.

Keywords: Algae; Carbon dioxide; Heavy metals; Photobioreactor; Power plant.

MeSH terms

Biomass
Carbon Dioxide
Microalgae*
Photobioreactors
Scenedesmus*

Substances

Carbon Dioxide