Energy Production from Chlorella Algae Biomass Under St. Petersburg Climatic Conditions

Abstract

The alga Chlorella sorokiniana was cultivated under natural conditions of St. Petersburg with natural lighting, without aeration, and with stirring once per day. The controls were strains of the populations grown under laboratory conditions at a stable temperature under the same aeration conditions and also with aeration and periodic stirring. The main cultivation conditions affecting cell multiplication were aeration and stirring. Algal cells multiplied 3.5 times in 16 days under these conditions and about doubled under natural conditions of St. Petersburg. Negative environmental impacts manifested as an increased proportion of dead cells in the population that was found by methylene-blue staining of temporary medications. Thus, C. sorokiniana could be cultivated under St. Petersburg conditions. However, cultivation conditions with aeration and periodic stirring had to be adjusted. A scheme for using algae cultivated under St. Petersburg conditions to produce valuable components and biofuels was proposed.