Predicting microalgae growth

A generally applicable kinetic model is presented to predict light limited microalgal growth. This model combines a mathematical description for photoautotrophic sugar production with a description for aerobic chemoheterotrophic biomass growth. The model is based on five parameters which are directly measurable but were obtained from literature for the purpose of this study. The model was validated for Chlorella sorokiniana with 52 experiments derived from eight publications and for Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with 32 experiments derived from seven publications. The specific growth rate was initially predicted with a mean absolute percent error (MAPE) of 34-36%. The low accuracy is most likely caused by simplifications in the light model and inaccurate parameter estimations. When optimizing the light model per experimental dataset, a 1-2% MAPE was obtained. When optimizing input parameters separately from the light model, a 2-18% MAPE was realized. After validating this model on batch data, we conclude that this model is a reliable engineering tool to predict growth in photobioreactors provided the light field is accurately measured or calculated. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.