Optimization of microalgae growth for biofuel production using a new empirical dynamic model

Abstract

This study involves modeling the growth of Tetradesmus sp. in a laboratory batch culture chamber under red, blue and magenta lights at intensities of 1000 to 5000 lux as well as under artificial white light and sunlight (at natural intensities). The growth, which is determined by measuring the optical density at 680 nm, is found to be highest at 5000 lux with values of 0.997 (Magenta), 0.793 (blue) and 0.777 (red) which are compared to 0.799 (sunlight) and 0.815 (artificial white light). Furthermore, an empirical dynamic model is developed for the estimation of the microalgae growth and implemented with Matlab Simulink. The model is validated by calculating mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), correlation coefficient (R), root mean square error (RMSE), mean square error (MSE), and mean absolute error (MAE) and comparing the values with those of some existing (Logistic and Monod) models. The values of R are found to be 0.9834 (new model), 0.7119 (Logistic model) and 0.8177 (Monod model), showing that the new model has the highest correlation with the experimental data. Thus, the growth of microalgae (Tetradesmus sp.) is greatly enhanced by high intensity magenta light and is best described by the new empirical model.

Keywords:

• Microalgae
• growth rate
• Tetradesmus sp.
• light intensity
• MATLAB

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Botany and Microbiology Department, University of Lagos, for providing the microalgae and the equipment used for measurements.

Authors’ contributions

This work was carried out in collaboration among all authors. HI designed the study, performed the statistical analysis, wrote the protocol, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. HI, MACC and NAN managed the analyses of the study. HI, MACC, NAN and NDI managed the literature searches. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.