Investigating Carbon Dioxide Transfer for Intensive Cultures of the Microalga Tetradesmus Obliquus

Carbon dioxide (CO2) transfer in the intensive cultivation of microalgae is a crucial process in photobioreactor performance. This study evaluated three operating conditions (bubble size, aeration rate, and CO2 concentration) to improve the growth performance of the microalga Tetradesmus obliquus in a laboratory–scale photobioreactor. Two types of air diffusers were used (glass pipette and a sintered glass diffuser), three aerations rates (0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 vvm), and four CO2–enriched air concentrations (0.04, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0