Biofixation of Carbon Dioxide from Kerosene Combustion and Biomass Production by Spirulina

CO2 is the main cause of greenhouse effect. Previous studies have shown that CO2 in methane and coal flue gas can lead to microalgae growth. The aim of this research was to study the CO2 biofixation by Spirulina and injecting kerosene flue gas. A photo bioreactor was fabricated in which kerosene flue gas and air were separately injected. The photo bioreactor was filled by growth medium without carbon source. Light source was four fluorescent lamps (10 Klux intensity) operated in continuous and intermittent modes. The concentration of CO2 was chosen in the range of 580 to 6000 ppm that was measured by NDIR CO2 detector. The initial concentration of algae was 20 mgL-1. The algal biomass production was measured during the experiment. The maximum production of algae by air and kerosene flue gas containing 5500 ppm CO2 using artificial intermittent light was 0.07 and 0.41 gL-1 d-1 and maximum concentrations of biomass were 0.25 and 1.63 gL-1, respectively. CO2 biofixation rates were between 2.27% and 4.03% at different runs. Biomass productivity with intermittent light was 15% less than continuous light and it reached 1.91 gL-1 with 5500 ppm CO2 using continuous light. In this study, the ability of a photo bioreactor was confirmed in the removal of CO2. Also, increase in CO2 contributes to increase in biomass production.