High density long-term cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris SAG 211-12 in a novel microgravity-capable membrane raceway photobioreactor for future bioregenerative life support in SPACE

Publication date: Available online 9 August 2019Source: Life Sciences in Space ResearchAuthor(s): Harald Helisch, Jochen Keppler, Gisela Detrell, Stefan Belz, Reinhold Ewald, Stefanos Fasoulas, Arnd G. HeyerAbstractHybrid life support systems are of great interest for future far-distant space exploration missions to planetary surfaces, e.g. Mars, planned until 2050. By synergistically combining physicochemical and biotechnological algae-based subsystems, an essential step towards the closure of the carbon loop in environmental control and life support systems (ECLSS) shall be accomplished, offering a wide beneficial potential for ECLSS through the utilization of oxygenic photosynthesis: O2 and potential human food can be formed in-situ from CO2 and water. The wild type green alga Chlorella vulgaris strain SAG 211-12 was selected as model microorganism due to its photoautotrophic growth, high biomass yield, cultivation flexibility and long-term cultivation robustness. The current study presents for the first time a stable xenic long-term processing of microalgae in a novel microgravity capable membrane raceway photobioreactor for 188 days with the focus on algal growth kinetics and gas evolution. In particular, culture homogeneity and viability were monitored and evaluated during the whole cultivation process due to their putative crucial impact on long-term functionality and efficiency of a closed cultivation system. Based on a specially designed cyclic batch cultivation proc...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - Category: Biology Source Type: research