Click on “Download PDF” for the PDF version or on the title for the HTML version. If you are not an ASABE member or if your employer has not arranged for access to the full-text, Click here for options. Influence of media composition on the growth rate of Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus acutus utilized for CO2 mitigationPublished by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org Citation: 2012 Dallas, Texas, July 29 - August 1, 2012 121337035.(doi:10.13031/2013.41734)Authors: Czarena L Crofcheck, Michael Monstross, Xinyi E, Aubrey P Shea, Mark Crocker, Rodney Andrews Keywords: Algae, CO2 mitigation, flue gas, Scenedesmus, Chlorella Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased since the industrial revolution due to the increase in combustion of fossil fuels. These elevated levels of CO2 have been cited as a significant cause of climate change. Hence, there is a well motivated need to find ways to mitigate CO2 emissions. Chemical absorption and geological storage of CO2 have high energy consumption, high capital cost and potential leakage. One possible alternative strategy is the use of microalgae for mitigation of CO2. This paper focuses on the influence of media composition on the growth rate of two microalgae strains, Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus actus. A KNO3 based medium was found to work better for Chlorella, while a urea based equivalent worked better for Scenedesmus. Upon reduction of the urea concentration, the algae growth rate increased slightly, showing that the urea level was not the limiting ingredient in the medium. The urea based media investigated here resulted in growth similar to that found with previously reported KNO3 based media. This should result in an economic benefit in large scale algae cultivation for CO2 mitigation, since urea is typically less expensive than KNO3. Additional media components were tested and it was found that EDTA and vitamin B do not result in a significant increase in algae growth rate. (Download PDF) (Export to EndNotes)
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