Verification of a Relationship between Ultraviolet Radiation and Initial Microalgal Cell Density Using a Floating Marine Photobioreactor

The purpose of this study was to investigate a relationship between ultraviolet radiation and initial cell density (ICD) of microalgae using a floating marine photobioreactor (PBR). To examine the effect of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight on biomass productivity as a function of ICD, 0.5-L floating PBRs covered with or without UV cut-off film were placed in an outdoor rectangular tank containing 200 L of water. At the lower ICDs, 0.01 and 0.05 g/L, biomass productivities in the PBRs without UV cut-off film decreased by $278{\pm}21%$ and $222{\pm}3%$ compared with those with the film, respectively. In contrast, the presence of UV cut-off film did not have a significant effect on biomass productivities at the higher ICDs, 0.25 and 1.25 g/L. When the differences in biomass productivity made by the UV cut-off film were plotted against the sum of cell projection area per light receiving area of the PBR, the results revealed that the inhibitory effect of UV on biomass productivity can be negligible when the sum of cell projection area is equal to the light receiving area of the PBR. These results show that photoinhibition caused by UV radiation could be eliminated via operating the PBR with a proper ICD.

부유형 해양 광생물반응기를 이용한 자외선과 초기 미세조류 접종 농도와의 상관관계 규명