Optimization of a Chlorella vulgaris-Based Carbon Sequestration Technique Using an Alkaline Medium of Wood Biomass Ash Extract

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Abstract

Algae communities as primary producers are essential elements of aquatic ecosystems and contribute significantly to oxygen production, carbon dioxide fixation, and nutrient transport processes in water bodies. The use of algae-based carbon capture and storage technologies does not produce harmful by-products that require disposal, and the resulting algal biomass can be valuable across various industrial sectors. In this study, model experiments were conducted to develop sequential absorption–microalgae hybrid CO2-capture methods. To facilitate CO2 capture from flue gases, wood biomass ash (WBA), an agricultural by-product, was utilized for its alkaline properties, while the flue gas scrubbing medium was regenerated by algae that restored alkalinity during their growth. In our experiments, one of our goals was to determine the optimal conditions for achieving maximum algal biomass growth in the shortest possible time. The suitability of WBA for flue gas cleaning was tested via simulation of CO2 introduction. Moreover, a method was developed to determine the dissolved inorganic carbon content with the use of an OxiTop device monitoring the changes in pressure. The applied device was a closed, static, and pressure-based respirometer originally designed to determine the biological activity of microorganisms in both solid and liquid samples. In addition, the effects of CO2-enriched WBA extract on algae cultivation were also analyzed, confirming that it imposed no growth inhibition and identifying the concentration (10% WBA) that optimally promoted algal growth. The optimal initial algal concentration and nutrient conditions for maximum growth were also determined.

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