Evaluation of carbon dioxide mass transfer in raceway reactors for microalgae culture using flue gases

•Carbon supply is a major factor limiting the productivity of raceway reactors.•Optimal design allows using more than 90% of CO2 contained into flue gases.•Carbon losses in raceway reactors are mainly related with exhaust of culture broth.

Mass transfer of CO2 from flue gas was quantified in a 100 m2 raceway. The carbonation sump was operated with and without a baffle at different liquid/gas ratios, with the latter having the greatest influence on CO2 recovery from the flue gas. A rate of mass transfer sufficient to meet the demands of an actively growing algal culture was best achieved by maintaining pH at ∼8. Full optimisation of the process required both pH control and selection of the best liquid/gas flow ratio. A carbon transfer rate of 10 gC min−1 supporting an algal productivity of 17 g m−2 day−1 was achieved with only 4% direct loss of CO2 in the sump. 66% of the carbon was incorporated into biomass, while 6% was lost by outgassing and the remainder as dissolved carbon in the liquid phase. Use of a sump baffle required additional power without significantly improving carbon mass transfer.