Device for microalgae cultivation based on cell adhesion

Abstract

An adhesion-based device (1) for microalgae cultivation that allows increasing the density of microalgae cultures and their biomass productivity, comprising: a body (2) with a top opening containing a culture medium (3) that occupies half its volume; a plurality of rotating discs (4) as a support surface on which the microalgae cells (5) adhere, promoting their growth for the formation of a biofilm, said plurality of discs (4) being fixed to a horizontal rotation axis (6) that passes through the body (2), and arranged equidistant from each other, wherein the location of the rotation axis (6) inside the body (2) is such that said discs are semi-submerged in the culture medium (3); gas-liquid diffusers for gas transfer and bubbling in the culture medium (3);at least one humidity sensor and at least one temperature sensor for monitoring, respectively, the humidity and temperature of the gas phase inside the body (2) of the device (1); at least one temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature of the culture medium (3); a top cover (7) on the upper opening of the body (2), preventing exposure of the culture medium (3) and microalgae cells (5) to the external environment; a lighting plate (8) disposed between each pair of discs (4) of the plurality of discs (4), being located on the rotation axis (6) and arranged in slots (71) in the cover (7) so that said lighting plates (8) are not in contact with the interior of the body (2); and an electric motor for providing slow and precise rotation of the rotation axis (6), wherein the body (2) and the cover (7) are made of a transparent or translucent material that allows the passage of sunlight or artificial light.