Growing biofuel outdoors in Seattle: effects of natural light level and temperature on marine microalgal culture density and lipid content in contained natural exposure systems

Senior thesis written for Oceanography 445

[author abstract] The effects of natural light and temperature on the growth rate, culture density, and lipid content of marine micro algae species Pavlova lutheri and Pavlova sp. were investigated to potentially lend precedent for further algae growth in the Pacific Northwest. Culture cycles grown in the laboratory and an engineered hybrid outdoor growth system CNES (Contained Natural Exposure System), were analyzed using a flow cytometer to find culture density (cell/mL), and relative neutral lipid content... Thermoregulation provided from the bay water surrounding the CNES maintained algal cultures within ideal growth temperatures. Thus, Seattle and the Pacific Northwest have the potential for large scale algal growth operations with the use of a CNES.

University of Washington School of Oceanography