Strategies to control biological contaminants during microalgal cultivation in open ponds

Tan Phat Lam, Tse Min Lee, Chun Yen Chen, Jo Shu Chang

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

75 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Microalgal biomass is in great demand for many applications, including aquaculture feed. The most suitable system for microalgal culture is open pond cultivation, but it is also highly vulnerable to biological contamination. Contamination greatly reduces the biomass yield and depending on the contaminant, the quality of the biomass as a feed additive is compromised. Five groups of organisms that are the most common contaminants, including grazers, fungi, photosynthetic organisms, bacteria and viruses, are presented and the best possible ways to control these contaminants are indicated. Selection of a fast growing species along with selective technologies previously used for wastewater treatment can keep grazer population in control, while exploiting host-specific characteristic of fungal infection can protect from fungal attacks. Control of photosynthetic organisms and bacteria by good cultivation practices and the use of probiotics are critically important, as these organisms compete with the microalgal culture for sunlight and organic substrate.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)180-187
Number of pages8
JournalBioresource technology
Volume252
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018 Mar

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Bioengineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Waste Management and Disposal

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