Effects of light availability on the biomass production, CO2 fixation, and bioethanol production potential of Thermosynechococcus CL-1

A thermophilic cyanobacterium named Thermosynechococcus CL-1 (TCL-1) was cultivated in this study to eliminate the energy input of cooling system in flat plate photobioreactors. Cultivating TCL-1 in the 1.5 cm light path flat plate photobioreactor exhibited stable characteristics for biomass production, CO2 fixation, and carbohydrate production under high illumination conditions (1000 or 2000 μE m−2 s−1). The greatest biomass and carbohydrate productivity, and CO2 fixation rate were recorded at 116, 67, and 170 mg/L/h, respectively, in the 1.5 cm light path photobioreactor and under optimal biomass concentration (about 3 g/L). Cultivating Thermosynechococcus CL-1 in flat plate photobioreactors exhibits high potential for biomass production, CO2 fixation and bioethanol production.

► Biomass production in the 1.5 cm light path photobioreactor is great.
► The greatest biomass productivity of Thermosynechococcus CL-1 is 116 mg/L/h.
► The greatest carbohydrate productivity of Thermosynechococcus CL-1 is 67 mg/L/h.
► Optimum biomass concentration of Thermosynechococcus CL-1 is 3.0 g/L.