Thin-Film Photo-Bioreactor: Construction and Characterization

This project addresses Food-Energy-Water (FEW) Nexus issues in that growing cyanobacteria to produce biofuels and other bioproducts requires large amounts of water and energy. This decreases the benefits of using cyanobacteria over fossil fuel resources such as petroleum. The purpose of a Thin-Film Photo-Bioreactor (TFPB) is to decrease this water and energy consumption. This project focused on designing and constructing a TFPB to cultivate Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and to observe how the cyanobacterial cell density in a thin film changed over time. A film was produced using sodium alginate and calcium chloride to evenly distribute the cells, and to maintain a smooth, uniform surface area. A TFPB was made from acrylic Plexiglass and silicone gasket material that allowed the cyanobacterial film to be used for a long time, and the temperature and airflow were held constant. Measurements indicated continuous oxygen production, an increase of cell mass per unit surface area, and good activity of Photosystem II over time