Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yun Li, Houfang Lu, Yingying Liu, Kejing Wu, Yingming Zhu, Bin Liang
Summary: In this study, nano-SiO2 was used to enhance CO2 absorption and desorption in high-viscosity DBU-glycerol solution. The effects of ultrasonic time, solids loading, and particle/cluster size of SiO2 on absorbent properties and absorption performance were investigated. The addition of nano-SiO2 significantly improved the absorption and desorption processes, by decreasing the average particle size and increasing the interfacial area between gas and liquid. The results showed that nano-SiO2 can effectively enhance both absorption and desorption processes in high-viscosity solutions.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rebecca Nordio, Emanuele Viviano, Ana Sanchez-Zurano, Jose Gonzalez Hernandez, Enrique Rodriguez-Miranda, Jose Luis Guzman, Gabriel Acien
Summary: This study compares different pH and dissolved oxygen control strategies for microalgae production and proposes improved strategies to enhance productivity. The results show that the event-based control strategy is most effective when using freshwater plus fertilizer, while there are no significant differences among different control strategies when wastewater is the nutrient source.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ana L. Goncalves, Filipe Almeida, Fernando A. Rocha, Antonio Ferreira
Summary: Despite the limitations faced by microalgae in capturing CO2 due to low gas solubility in liquid medium, the study proposes using an oscillatory flow reactor with smooth periodic constrictions (OFR-SPC) to enhance CO2 mass transfer without significantly increasing power consumption and fluid turbulence. Increasing oscillatory movement, aeration rate, and CO2 concentration were found to improve CO2 gas-liquid mass transfer rates.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Hong-Qing Jin, Hrushikesha Athreya, Aditi Kalle, Sophie Wang, Kashif Nawaz
Summary: The integration of a CO2 desorption model into CFD modeling allows for the prediction of scale formation and CO2 desorption with local and transient profiles of temperature, carbonate species concentrations, pH, and total alkalinity. Simulation results show that high steam temperatures increase seawater total alkalinity and accelerate scale formation. The thickness of the scale on the bottom tube reaches 0.30 μm and 5.24 μm for steam temperatures of 60 degrees C and 80 degrees C, respectively. High salinity leads to a larger CO2 desorption rate, with a 43% increase when seawater salinity increases from 35 to 55 g/kg. The effects of operating conditions on carbonate speciation and pH have been compared and analyzed. This model can be a useful tool for the design and optimization of thermal desalination systems.
Article
Microbiology
Francesca Casagli, Olivier Bernard
Summary: High-rate algal-bacterial ponds (HRABP) are considered as an interesting solution to reduce energy demand in wastewater treatment, yet the efficiency is highly influenced by solar fluxes and temperature fluctuations. The temperature patterns and reactor configurations play a crucial role in the biological process of HRABPs.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Steven Sutton, Robert W. M. Pott, Wessel Du Toit
Summary: This article examines the desorption of dissolved oxygen in different wines and identifies the presence and concentration of proteins as factors contributing to the variation in oxygen desorption.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
B. Le Gouic, H. Marec, J. Pruvost, J. F. Cornet
Summary: This study validated the accuracy of a well-controlled photobioreactor experiment setup and investigated the transfer and assimilation of CO2 in water by photosynthetic microorganisms. The gas-liquid mass transfer coefficient (k(L)a) was modeled to understand the dissolution of CO2 in water, affected by the composition of the culture medium and its pH value. Additionally, the carbon assimilation and growth limitation by the carbon source were studied for the microalga Chlorella vulgaris.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Agricultural Engineering
Yahui Sun, Deshen Hu, Haixing Chang, Shengnan Li, Shih-Hsin Ho
Summary: This review systematically summarizes recent progress on enhancing light and CO2 availabilities in microalgal photosynthesis. Strategies for increasing light availability and enhancing CO2 light availability are discussed. The possible future directions for PBRs implementation and development are also presented.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Axel Herrera, Giuliana D' Imporzano, Francisco Gabriel Acien Fernandez, Fabrizio Adani
Summary: Microalgae production is important for its energy efficiency compared to land crops. Evaluating environmental impacts, the main factors affecting performance were electricity use, fertilizer demand, and transport. Recovered nutrients from manure and wastewater can significantly reduce carbon emissions, but there is a threshold for manure transport distance.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mariana Franco-Morgado, Tania Tabaco-Angoa, Miguel Angel Ramirez-Garcia, Armando Gonzalez-Sanchez
Summary: The study evaluated the volumetric ratio of liquid recirculation rate to biogas rate (L/G = 5.0, 1.0, and 0.5), along with the application of a novel accessory called Open Trickling Column (OTC). Results showed that the O-2 content in upgraded biogas at L/G ratio of 1.0 was around 2.1%, with CO2 removal efficiencies around 90%. The inclusion of OTC enhanced the removal of O-2 by 54% compared to the basal condition.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
N. Sanaye Mozaffari Sabet, Abooali Golzary
Summary: The study investigates the impact of bubble size, gas velocity, and photobioreactor structure on carbon dioxide fixation by microalgae. It reveals an inverse relationship between carbon dioxide concentration and bubble growth. Additionally, the study finds that increasing bubble velocity leads to a decrease in liquid and gas contact concentration.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Zhong-Liang Sun, Meng-Ru Xin, Ping Li, Li-Qin Sun, Shi-Kai Wang
Summary: The study demonstrates that incorporating physical absorption enhancers is a promising approach to address the issues of low biological carbon sequestration efficiency, low CO2 utilization efficiency, and high carbon source cost in algal biomass production.
BIOPROCESS AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Cristian Inostroza, Javier Davila, Sergio Roman, Jose M. Fernandez-Sevilla, F. Gabriel Acien
Summary: The lack of vertical mixing limits the productivity of open raceway microalgae reactors. Using airfoils to improve vertical mixing can increase photosynthesis rate and biomass productivity.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Sotirios Zerveas, Evangelos Kydonakis, Polychronis Moutidis, Aristeidis Maragkoudakis, Kiriakos Kotzabasis
Summary: The study demonstrates that microalgae can effectively increase oxygen levels in anoxic atmospheres by utilizing high concentrations of CO2 for photosynthesis, promoting growth without stress responses. This survival strategy of microalgae could potentially be used for combating the greenhouse effect and recycling atmospheres on other planets, providing a useful module for (astro)biotechnological applications.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Carlos D. Diaz-Marin, Lenan Zhang, Bachir El Fil, Zhengmao Lu, Mohammed Alshrah, Jeffrey C. Grossman, Evelyn N. Wang
Summary: This study develops a model for the simultaneous vapor, water, and heat transfer in hygroscopic hydrogels during sorption and desorption processes. The model accurately captures experimentally observed thermally-driven desorption rates in these hydrogels. The study also identifies key design parameters and demonstrates that varying these parameters can significantly increase the amount of water desorbed from the hydrogels.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Vitor Verdelho Vieira, Jean-Paul Cadoret, F. Gabriel Acien, John Benemann
Summary: Microalgae, as the basis for an emerging worldwide industry, are facing significant challenges in contributing to the global economy, including adapting traditional industry experiences and regulations to the microalgae sector. This work presents and discusses the main issues and boundaries impacting the microalgae sector, highlighting the need for appropriate regulations and support from governments and businesses to recognize the unique attributes and potential of microalgae.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Emilio Molina-Grima, Francisco Garcia-Camacho, Francisco Gabriel Acien-Fernandez, Asterio Sanchez-Miron, Maxence Plouviez, Carolina Shene, Yusuf Chisti
Summary: This paper focuses on the competitors, pathogens, and grazers that have significant impacts on the commercial cultivation of microalgae and cyanobacteria. It discusses the detection and identification of these biological contaminants, as well as operational protocols and methods for managing contamination.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Enrique Rodriguez-Miranda, Ana Sanchez-Zurano, Jose Luis Guzman, Gabriel Acien, Antonio Visioli
Summary: Irradiance and temperature are crucial variables affecting microalgae growth, especially in outdoor raceway reactors. Developing a decision-making tool to determine the influence of these variables on culture and optimize facility design and operation is of great importance.
BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Elisa Clagnan, Giuliana D'Imporzano, Marta Dell'Orto, Alessia Bani, Alex J. Dumbrell, Katia Parati, Francisco Gabriel Acien-Fernandez, Agustin Portillo-Hahnefeld, Antera Martel-Quintana, Juan Luis Gomez-Pinchetti, Fabrizio Adani
Summary: This study investigated the effects of centrate and synthetic media on microalgal communities, and found that microalgal communities grown on centrate showed higher nitrogen content and richer gene composition.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Martina Ciardi, Cintia Gomez-Serrano, Tomas Lafarga, Gabriel Acien, Bernardo Llamas, Silvia Bolado, Jose Maria Fernandez-Sevilla
Summary: In this study, water requirements during microalgae production were minimized by recirculating outlet effluents back into the reactor and simultaneously reusing the effluents while covering the reactors with plastic covers. Water recirculation negatively affected biomass productivity, but uncovered reactors reduced the water requirements. However, covering the reactors reduced biomass productivity but reduced water evaporation losses. With a recirculation percentage of 75% and plastic covers, the amount of water required was reduced by over 50%.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Marta Barcelo-Villalobos, Angeles Hoyo, Enrique Rodriguez-Miranda, Jose Luis Guzman, Francisco Gabriel Acien
Summary: Raceway reactors, widely used in microalgae production, have low mass transfer capacity, causing dissolved oxygen accumulation and reduced system performance. To address this issue, a new control algorithm is proposed to improve mass transfer capacity and reduce air injection costs by applying only necessary airflow based on demand. The proposed approach was evaluated through simulation and outdoor conditions in an 80 m(2) photobioreactor.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Rebecca Nordio, Francisco Javier Delgado, Ana Sanchez-Zurano, Jose Gonzalez Hernandez, Enrique Rodriguez-Miranda, Jose Luis Guzman, Tomas Lafarga, Gabriel Acien
Summary: The present study aimed to evaluate the use of microalga Scenedesmus almeriensis for treating untreated urban wastewater. Two 12 m(3) raceway reactors, one supplemented with wastewater and the other with chemical fertilizer, were operated outdoors in a semi-continuous mode for eight months. The results showed that S. almeriensis could be produced in wastewater without affecting the photosynthetic apparatus, with an average productivity of 13 g center dot m(-2)center dot day(-1) in both systems. Moreover, the nutrient content of the wastewater, including nitrogen, phosphorous, and chemical oxygen demand, was reduced to meet European limitations, with average removal rates of 2.2, 0.2, and 3.0 g center dot m(-2)center dot day(-1) respectively. The raceway reactors demonstrated high potential for microalgal production and efficient biotreatment, proving to be robust and reliable. Additionally, an accurate model was developed to evaluate the effect of environmental conditions on biomass productivity in the clean system (R-2 = 0.9, p = 0.0002).
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joseph Santhi Pechsiri, Jean-Baptiste E. Thomas, Naoufel El Bahraoui, Francisco Gabriel Acien Fernandez, Jamal Chaouki, Saad Chidami, Rodrigo Rivera Tinoco, Jose Pena Martin, Cintia Gomez, Michel Combe, Fredrik Grondahl
Summary: This study compares the environmental performance of conventional reactors and a proposed internally illuminated novel closed reactor design. The results show that the novel photobioreactor can significantly reduce impacts such as eutrophication and climate change when leveraging renewable energy sources and the photosynthesis process in urban-industrial symbiosis scenarios.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Elvira Navarro-Lopez, Juan Jose Gallardo-Rodriguez, Maria del Carmen Ceron-Garcia, Inmaculada Gallego-Lopez, Francisco Gabriel Acien-Fernandez, Emilio Molina-Grima
Summary: The effect of different parameters on the extraction of biostimulant molecules from microalgal biomass was investigated, and the optimal conditions for using organic green solvents (acetone or ethanol) were determined for maximum germination index.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jorge Garcia-Marquez, Jesus Vizcaino Antonio, Andre Barany, Alba Galafat, Gabriel Acien, Felix L. Figueroa, Javier Alarcon Francisco, Miguel Mancera Juan, Juan Antonio Martos-Sitcha, Salvador Arijo, Roberto Teofilo Abdala-Diaz
Summary: The study found that the combined administration of Chlorella fusca and ethanol-inactivated Vibrio proteolyticus significantly improved the growth performance and feed utilization of the thick-lipped grey mullet, while enhancing the lipid quality and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. This has potential benefits for human nutrition.
Article
Microbiology
Jorge Garcia-Marquez, Rosa Maria Rico, Francisco Gabriel Acien, Juan Miguel Mancera, Felix L. Figueroa, Antonio Jesus Vizcaino, Francisco Javier Alarcon, Miguel Angel Morinigo, Roberto Teofilo Abdala-Diaz
Summary: This study investigates the effects of a blend of microalgae on Sparus aurata juveniles. The results show that the addition of microalgae tends to decrease body lipids and affects fatty acid profile. In particular, the diet containing 25% of the microalgae blend increases DHA levels. Additionally, this diet promotes appropriate microbial diversity and influences fatty acid composition and lipid metabolism in fish.
Article
Mathematics
Pablo Otalora, Jose Luis Guzman, Manuel Berenguel, Francisco Gabriel Acien
Summary: The industrial production of microalgae is a sustainable and interesting process, especially in terms of its applications in wastewater treatment. Neural network models have been developed to optimize the process and characterize the pH dynamics in different raceway reactors. These models are able to predict pH profiles using available measurable process data and demonstrate the potential of artificial neural networks in modeling continuous dynamic systems in the industry.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jorge Garcia-Marquez, Bruna Rodrigues Moreira, Piedad Valverde-Guillen, Sofia Latorre-Redoli, Candela T. Caneda-Santiago, Gabriel Acien, Eduardo Martinez-Manzanares, Manuel Mari-Beffa, Roberto T. Abdala-Diaz
Summary: This study investigated the cytotoxic activity of ulvan polysaccharides obtained from Ulva rigida against human cancer cell lines and zebrafish embryos. The results showed that ulvan had cytotoxic effects on human cancer cell lines, particularly on colon cancer cells. However, ulvan also had negative effects on the growth rate and osmolar balance of zebrafish embryos, indicating that its use should be limited to specific concentrations.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jorge Garcia-Marquez, Daniel Alvarez-Torres, Isabel M. Cerezo, Marta Dominguez-Maqueda, Felix L. Figueroa, Francisco Javier Alarcon, Gabriel Acien, Eduardo Martinez-Manzanares, Roberto T. Abdala-Diaz, Julia Bejar, Salvador Arijo
Summary: This study assessed the impact of dietary green microalgae and ethanol-inactivated Vibrio proteolyticus on thick-lipped grey mullet juvenile fish. The results showed that the diet influenced the composition of intestinal microbiota without affecting its functionality. Additionally, the diet effectively regulated the transcription of stress and immune-related genes, enhancing the fish's resistance against stress and infections.
Article
Agronomy
Hui Wang, Mei Liu, Wei Zhang, Jiye Yan, Xingmin Tang, Jorge Antonio Sanchez-Molina, Xinghong Li
Summary: This study established an optimal spraying schedule for fungicides effective against Botrytis cinerea on grapes by identifying the key stages of pathogen invasion. The Effect and Less Spraying Control (ELSC) method was more effective than the traditional control schedule in reducing disease severity caused by B. cinerea. Spraying during flowering using the ELSC method did not have a negative impact on grape yield.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sung-Yeoul Kim, Vikash Chandra Roy, Jin-Seok Park, Byung-Soo Chun
Summary: This study aims to extract functional substances from Undaria pinnatiida sporophyll using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) and subcritical water extraction (SWE). The results showed that the consecutive green extraction method can yield extracts rich in fucoxanthin and beta-carotene, and the sporophyll of Undaria pinnatiida contains health-beneficial fatty acids. Additionally, SWE can extract substances with antioxidant, antibacterial, and antihypertensive activities.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2024)