Novel photobioreactor systems for characterizing algal behavior in outdoor-simulating environments

This thesis presents the development of a series of progressively sophisticated novel photobioreactors for cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms in outdoor-simulating environments. The reactors have been created with the needs of the organisms as well as the lab and scientists in mind for characterizing high productivity candidate strains for outdoor farming of valuable resources. They control four major components (or selections thereof) of managing photosynthetic growth: illumination, temperature control, gas administration, and liquids handling. Light drives the photosynthetic apparatus, temperature dictates the rates of many physiochemical processes, the dissolved gas environment determines concentration gradients the cells must work with or against for electron fixation, and the liquid environment impacts salinity, nutrient availability, and homogeneity. In outdoor situations, these conditions can swing diurnally, with weather, and at different locations of the pond, resulting in unexpected behaviors compared to traditional flask-grown cultures. It is a costly and time-constrained endeavor to test strains outdoors, so to enable more rapid experimentation indoors, these reactors were developed. They are capable of simulating diurnal outdoor light intensities and temperature swings, controlling pH, and performing liquid additions and subtractions like what would be seen in operation at an outdoor facility. This enables characterization of outdoor candidate strains indoors during off-seasons and alleviates much of the manual labor associated with caring for each individual culture.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Colorado School of Mines. Arthur Lakes Library

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Karns, Devin Andrew Justin

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• DeCaluwe, Steven C.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Posewitz, Matthew C.
• Jackson, Gregory
• Zhang, Xiaoli

• algae
• bioreactor
• photosynthesis

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright of the original work is retained by the author.

Language dc:language.iso

eng, English

Dc Identifier Other

T 9775

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.mines.edu:11124/179251