The Study of Optimum Conditions for Chlorella vulgaris by the Response Surface Experimental Design

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the optimum conditions for cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris in a 1-L bioreactor using statistical experimental design. The results were success­fully determined by response surface methodology of Box-Behnken and will be used to design the pilot plant bioreactor. Experimental factors effecting the optimum conditions were the cultivation temperature of 25 - 40 °C, the pH of 6 - 8 and the volumetric ratio of carbon dioxide of 1.6 – 7.7%. It was found that the optimum conditions for cultivation were 29.6 °C, pH = 7.26 and the volumetric flow rate of carbon dioxide of 16.18 ml/min or carbon dioxide volumetric ratio of 2.63% giving a specific growth rate of 0.389 day^-1.