Enhancing Biomass Production of Microalgae Using Cement Flue Gas

Abstract

Emission of Carbon dioxide (CO2) from cement industry is a critical issue which leads to air pollution. Biological remediation of CO2 using microalgae is one of the most cost-effective methods for industrial CO2 reduction and gets the higher biomass yield. The potential of microalgal Photosynthesis for the production of biomass is widely recognized due to their more efficient utilization of sunlight energy as compared with higher plants. Micro-algae have received considerable interest as a potential feedstock for producing sustainable transport fuels. The study was mainly focussed to identify the most effective algae from marine algae (Nannochloropsis sp.) and fresh water algae (Chlorella sp. and Spirulina sp.). Guillard and Ryther’s modified F2 media was selected as growing medium for microalgae cultivation. Cement flue gas was bubbled to growing media as treatment and atmospheric air was bubbled as control. Completely randomize design (CRD) was used with three replicates. Dry weight of biomass of algae species, Carbon dioxide (CO2) percentage and Oxygen (O2) percentage of input and output air from medium and pH variation were observed. The highest dry weight of biomass was observed in marine algae Nannochloropsis (2.75 g/l) and it was 78.6% higher compared to control. Nannochloropsis sp. absorbed highest amount of CO2 (12.41%) by media. There is a high potential to use cement flue gas as CO2 source for Nannochloropsis sp. to get higher biomass yield for biofuel production.