Feasibility Assessment of Microalgal Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Technology with Photobioreactor and Solar Collector

• Published in: Biosystems engineering 2006-12, Vol.95 (4), p.597-606
• Main Authors: Ono, E., Cuello, J.L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural machinery and engineering; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; algae and seaweeds; biofuels; Biological and medical sciences; bioreactors; biosynthesis; Biotechnology; carbon dioxide; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Generalities. Biometrics, experimentation. Remote sensing; net assimilation rate; new technology; photosynthesis; solar energy
• ISSN: 1537-5110; 1537-5129
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2006.08.005

The aim of this study was to develop a feasibility model for microalgal carbon dioxide (CO 2) biofixation using photobioreactors equipped with solar collectors, which would evaluate the unit net cost of CO 2 mitigation as a function of the target total CO 2 mitigation cost, the available solar radiation, and the biological conversion efficiency, among others. The results showed that, to achieve the target CO 2 mitigation price of 30 US$ t −1 [CO 2] at 40% biological conversion efficiency, the allowable net cost should be less than 2·52 US$ m −2 yr −1 at low-light intensity (average US location), and should be less than 3·24 US$ m −2 yr −1 at high light intensity (sunbelt region). The model made evident the importance of using microalgae with commercially valuable byproducts ( e.g. biofuel), especially in achieving the smaller allowable unit net costs corresponding to more stringent CO 2 mitigation costs.