CO2 REMOVAL BY HIGH-DENSITY CULTURE OF A MARINE CYANOBACTERIUM SYNECHOCOCCUS SP USING AN IMPROVED PHOTOBIOREACTOR EMPLOYING LIGHT-DIFFUSING OPTICAL FIBERS

A light diffusing optical fiber (LDOF) photobioreactor with an improved gas input system has been used for the high-density culture of a marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. optimum conditions for CO2 removal and biomass production were investigated. Maximum CO2 removal of 4.44 g/L/d was achieved using an initial cell concentration of 6.8 g/L. The biomass yield was 0.97 g/L for a 12-culture time. Continuous cultures, in which medium was filtered using a ceramic membrane module, showed enhanced growth, with a final cell concentration of 11.2 g/L. These results demonstrate the potential of LDOF photobioreactor units for CO2 removal and biomass production using marine cyanobacteria.