Thesis Archive
The Effect of Culture Media Type and Biofilm Support of a Photobioreactor to the Biomass Yield of Nannochloropsis Sp (2014-2015)
Justinne Charles A. Lavydez
John Gabrielle C. Mariñas
Howayne O. Chua
Abstract:
-During the last five decades, CO2 levels in the atmosphere have increased drastically beyond 360 ppm over time. One solution of reducing the CO2 levels is the use of microalgae as a source of energy. It was discovered that microalgae can absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and use it for its growth, and also it only requires small amount of land area compared to land crops. Nannochloropsis sp. is one of the most oil-producing microalgae of an average 46%(w/v) percent. This research focuses on increasing the cell density of the Nannochloropsis sp. since the oil that can be produced from the microalgae is proportional to the cell density. For this project, it determines the effect of adding a biofilm support and varying the culture medium to this microalgae species. The two culture media were NPK (14-14-14) fertilizer and the Binangonan Research Station Program (BRSP) solution from Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center/Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC/AQD). The addition of the biofilm support on the NPK medium showed a significant difference in absorbance compared to the culture without the biofilm support. However, the difference was not significant on the BRSP medium.
Adviser:
Dr. Michelle Almendrala
Dr. Joseph L. Auresenia