Spectral Modification of Light Using Phycocyanin Pigment for Enhancing Growth of Green Microalgae Chlorella sp.

The focus of this research is about spectral modification of light using phycocyanin solution for enhancing the growth of microalgae Chlorella sp.. For this purpose, two double-layer flat panel photobioreactor was constructed. In the front layer of the main reactor, microalgae Chlorella sp. was cultivated and the rear layer was filled with phycocyanin solution. In the control reactor (without phycocyanin), the front layer was filled with deionized water instead of phycocyanin solution. Photobioreactors were under the radiation of white LED with the intensity of 490 µmolphoton m-2/s at the temperature of 27±1ºC. Compared to the control system, results showed that biomass productivity (P) and maximum specific growth rate (µmax) increased 75% and 90%, respectively. Also, the content of chlorophyll a was increased, significantly. But lipid content of cells decreased under modified light using phycocyanin.