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Study of the LEDs spectrums influence on the spirulina platensis growth

Conference Paper · June 2018

DOI: 10.1109/EEEIC.2018.8493759

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Niangoran Urbain Laurent Canale

Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III French National Centre for Scientific Research
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Paul Sabatier University - Toulouse III Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny
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 Study of the LEDs spectrums influence on the
spirulina platensis growth in batch culture
Urbain Niangoran
Toulouse University
LAPLACE, UMR 5213, UPS
Toulouse, France
niangoran@laplace.univ-tlse.fr
Laureant Canale
Toulouse University
LAPLACE, UMR 5213, CNRS, INPT, UPS
Toulouse, France
canale@laplace.univ-tlse.fr
Feng Tian
Tsinghua University
State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy
Beijing, China
tianfeng204@gmail.com
Abstract—In this research work, we mainly
studied the influence of the spectra (from 400 nm to
700 nm) of different LED colors on the biomass
production of microalgae spirulina platensis.
Spirulina Platensis has a short reproductive cycle
with remarkable nutritional qualities. The results
show that spirulina cells are sensitive to spectrum
and the amount of light. Indeed the red and blue
LEDs respectively give the highest and the lowest
biomass. Moreover, we have tested with 660 nm LED,
many lighting level on spirulina growth. This
experiment permit us to study photoinhibition and to
determine optimal lighting level for spirulina.
Keywords—Spirulina; biomass; algae culture lighting;
I. INTRODUCTION
Food security and the eradication of malnutrition
remain major challenges for many countries. These
scourges have serious consequences on the populations
in particular they are the causes of many deaths of the
978-1-5386-5186-5/18/$31.00 ©2018 IEEE
Cissé Théodore Haba
National Polytechnic Institute Félix Houphouët Boigny
L2IS, UMRI 78
Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire
cissetheodore@yahoo.fr
Georges Zissis
Toulouse University
LAPLACE, UMR 5213, CNRS, INPT, UPS
Toulouse, France
zissis@laplace.univ-tlse.fr
children. In addition, land resources to increase
agricultural production are decreasing or deteriorating.
The eradication of malnutrition could involve the
popularization of highly nutritious and accessible foods
such as spirulina. Spirulina platensis is cyanobacteria
(blue-green microalgae). It is very nutritious because it
contents high concentrations of proteins, β-carotene,
vitamins, phycocyanin and γ-linolenic acid [1], [2]. This
nutritious food also has applications in cosmetics and
medicine.
Like photosynthetic plants, growth of microalgae
depends mainly on the quality and quantity of light in
particular a controlled environment. Thus, the optimal
management of climatic parameters such as the light is a
major factor to ensure good profitability for producers.
A lot of research work on lighting including LEDs for
Spirulina Platensis cultivation have been carried out [3],
[4]. Compared to the conventional lamps (incandescent
and discharge lamps), the LEDs have two important
characteristics : narrow band wavelength and low power
consumption. So, we can consider them such as the
optimal light sources for cultivating the microalgae.
These characteristics also make it possible to study the
effects of light wavelength and quantity on biomass
production [5]. So, it can be possible to recompose the
optimal spectrum for photosynthesis and therefore to be
able to target the most appropriate light spectrum to the
microalgue.
In this paper, we present the effect of different light
wavelength in visible spectrum on spirulina platensis
biomass production. We also study the influence of red
(660 nm) lighting level on spirulina growth rate.
II. MATERIEL AND METHODS
A. Light spectrum effect
The microorganism used was Spirulina platensis UTEX
LB 2340 from France, which was grown
photoautotrophically in Zarrouk medium. A kind of
aquarium made by transparent glass was selected as the
incubator (Fig. 1). We adopted a tank with a size of
D = 15 cm,·H = 20 cm and·L = 30 cm, and filled with 6
liters of Zarrouk medium [6]. The experiments carried
out in a chamber at the 28℃. Thus, wave maker pumps
are used to agitate the culture solution with a flow
velocity of 5000 liters per hour. We used a panel of
LEDs to enlighten the spirulina cultures. We tested
different colors of LED (from Cree and OSRAM
manufacturers) in visible spectrum: blue (430-460 nm),
red (660 nm), yellow (590-620 nm) and warm white for
experiments. The value of PPFD (Photosynthetic Photon
Flux Density) equal to 450 µmol·m-2·s-1.
Fig. 1. Experimental setups to study of the light spectrum
influence on spirulina growth
B. Lighting level effects on spirulina growth
For this experiment, Spirulina platensis culture was
made in glass PVC tubes (Fig. 2) in a chamber at 28°C
under red (660 nm) lighting. Six light intensities (i.e.
200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 µmol·m-2·s-1) are tested.
For the experiments A and B in batch mode, the
biomass of spirulina platensis was determined by
measuring the optical density (OD) at 680 nm using
UV/Visible/IR spectrophotometer (Spectronic 20
GeneisSYS, Spectronic Instruments, USA). The sample
of the culture were filtered through pre-dried, pre-
weighed cellulose acetate filter membranes (Sartorius
Stedium Biotech, Germany) and washed with distilled
water and with 0.9% sodium chloride to remove the non-
soluble salts remaining on the filter before drying for 72
hours at 35°C [7]. After weighing the dried filter, we
obtained the linear equation between the biomass dry
weight DW (g/L) and optical density OD680 with
R2 = 0.9968 :
Dw = 0.7247· OD680 + 0.0044 (1)
LED lamp
Agitator
Spirulina
Power supply
module
Fig. 2. Experimental setup to study of the lighting level on
spirulina growth
Moreover, it is necessary to analyze the economic
efficiency of lighting level corresponding at specific
electrical power. This is why we calculated biomass
production P (g·L-1·day-1) (equation 2) and economic
efficiency Ec (g·L-1·€-1) of energy to dry biomass
(equation 3) [3]:
P= (2)
E = (3)
· ·
Where C0 and Cn are respectively the dries weights of
biomass (g/L) on the nth day and initial concentration, K
is the price of electrical power (€·W-1), T is the time for
the culture (days) and Pe is the electrical power for LED B. Lighting level effect on spirulina growth
module supplied in incubator. The evolution of biomass (Fig. 4.) follows well the
In addition, we used a modified Monod model [8] microalgae growth curve as a function of time in batch
(equation 4) to depict the relationship between the light
mode: first increase then decrease in biomass [10].
intensity E (µmol·m-2·s-1) and the microalgae specific
growth rate μ (1/day): Overall, the exponential growth phase takes place during
the first 5 days, the stationary phase and the sixth day
μ μ = (4) and then there is a decrease. Lighting levels at 200 and
500 μmol·m-2·s-1 give the lowest and highest biomass
outputs, respectively. From 600 μmol·m-2·s-1, biomass
μmax and μ0 (cell growth in dark) are respectively the
production decreases.
maximum and minimum specific growth rate. The
Figure 5 shows the evolution of biomass productivity
Monod constant, Ks, implies the light intensity needed
and economic efficiency as a function of lighting level.
for algae to reach half of the maximum specific growth
This figure shows that the optimal lighting level is
rate. Finally, E0 represents the minimum light intensity
between 300 and 400 μmol·m-2·s-1. The optimum
requirement for photoautotrophical microalgae growth.
lighting level is exactly 360 μmol·m-2·s-1. This result
takes into account the volume of culture and the location
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
of the lighting module. For a given volume, we can
A. Light spectrum effect
deduce the intensity of the lighting by simple
Figure 3 shows the spirulina growth for different
extrapolation. In addition, growth becomes slow after
wavelength. The results show that spirulina cells are
500 μmol·m-2·s-1. With this value of PPFD, productivity
sensitive to light spectrum. Indeed the red and blue
is very low.
LEDs respectively give the highest and the lowest
biomass. This is explained by the fact that the main
photosynthetic pigment of microalgae, chlorophyll
strongly absorbs red light [9]. On the other hand, the
yellow LED allows a fairly average production (about
half of that of red light). Finally, the white light LED
displayed a high biomass harvest amount. Wang et al.
found similar results on the effect of different
wavelengths on the Spirulina platensis growth [3].

Red White Yellow Blue

0.6

0.5

0.4
DW (g/L)

0.3
Fig. 4. Evolution of biomass for different levels of lighting
0.2

0.1

0
0 1 2 3 4
Days

Fig. 3. Spirulina biomass according to different wavelengths

 assumed that the light quality is linked to the biomass
Biomass productivity
production. We conclude that the red light (660 nm)
120 8
permits the highest biomass production. Moreover, for
7
100 5.3 L volume culture, the optimal intensity value is a
6
80 360 µmol·m-2·s-1. At this value of light intensity, the
5
P (g/L/day)

Ec(g/L/€)
electrical energy consumption is optimal because the
60 4
ratio between energy consumption and amount of
3
40 biomass produced is relatively high. Besides, the
2
20
1
maximum growth rate is µmax = 0.2625 day-1. These results
0 0
can be extrapolated for high culture volumes. Thus, they
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 can help to minimize the production costs of Spirulina
PPFD (µmol/m^2/s) platensis especially the power consumption of lighting.

Fig. 5. Evolution of productivity and economic efficiency REFERENCES

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Fig.6. Growth rate according to light intensity

IV. CONCLUSION
Five colored LED have used to study the influence of
light wavelength on Spirulina Platensis growth. It is

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