Biosequestration of CO2 using power plant algae (Rhizoclonium hieroglyphicum JUCHE2) in a Flat Plate Photobio-Bubble-Reactor – Experimental and modeling

• A novel mathematical model for Flat Plate Photobio-Bubble-Reactor has been proposed.
• The effect of population dynamics on long term growth kinetics of algae has been studied.
• The model has been validated over a wide range of light intensity and CO2 concentration.
• The model has successfully predicted the experimental algal growth rate.

Biosequestration of CO2 in a 1.8 L Flat Plate Photobio-Bubble-Reactor using power plant algae (Rhizoclonium hieroglyphicum JUCHE2) has been studied. CO2 concentration and light intensity have been varied in the range of 5–25% and 82 μmol m−2 s−1–398.71 μmol m−2 s−1, respectively. Dependence of initial specific growth rate of algae has been explained by Haldane type kinetics and by Langmuir–Hinshelwood type kinetics including shape factor with respect to liquid phase CO2 concentration and the intensity of light, respectively. Half saturation constants for CO2 (=Ks) and light (=KE), inhibition constant for CO2 (=KI) and maximum specific growth rate (=μmax) have been determined, respectively as 1.25 × 10−7 Mol/L, 120 μmol m−2 s−1, 0.00165 Mol/L and 0.996 d−1. A mathematical model of the Flat Plate Photobio-Bubble-Reactor has been developed incorporating effects of phenomena like gas to liquid mass transfer of CO2, stripping of dissolved CO2 to overhead gas space of the reactor, CO2 uptake by algal biomass. Population dynamics of long term growth of algal biomass have been incorporated by using a Gaussian time function. The model has been validated up to gas phase CO2 concentration of 25% through successful comparison of predicted data with corresponding experimental results.

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