Improvement of carbon dioxide biofixation in a photobioreactor using Anabaena sp. PCC 7120

The biological photosynthetic process is useful and environmentally benign compared with other carbon dioxide (CO2) mitigation processes. In the present study, Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 was utilized for carbon dioxide mitigation. A customized airlift photobioreactor was found to provide higher light utilization efficiency and a higher rate of CO2 biofixation compared with that of a bubble column. The maximum biomass concentrations were 0.71 and 1.13 g L−1 in the bubble column and airlift photobioreactor, respectively, using BG110 medium under aerated conditions. A lower mixing time in the airlift photobioreactor compared with that of the bubble column resulted in improved mass transfer. The CO2 biofixation rate of Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 was determined using different phosphate concentrations at a light intensity of 120 μE m−2 s−1 and 5% (v/v) CO2-enriched air in the airlift photobioreactor. However, it was observed that the specific growth rate was independent at higher light intensity. In addition, it was observed that increased light intensity, phosphate and CO2 concentrations could enhance the CO2 biofixation efficiency to a greater extent.