The bioreactor for seaweed

Young scientists of the Tomsk Polytechnic University announced in April 20147 years the bioreactor for cultivation of monocelled seaweed, such as chlorella. Thanks to correctly picked up mode of lighting and maintenance of other conditions, necessary for cultivation, installation will allow to receive in 12 hours prior to 400 liters of mix of seaweed and water. This mix — nutritious feed additive for farm animals. Participants conduct negotiations with the farms ready to try new additive for the animals.

Monocelled seaweed are rich sources of protein and vitamins. So, the chlorella contains about 50% of protein, 40% of carbohydrates and 7-10% of fats and also vitamins A, B2, K, RR and many microelements. Monocelled seaweed grow up in the conditions of soft warm climate — in Central Asia, in the Crimea — in outdoor pools with special nutrient medium. In the Tomsk region weather conditions do not allow to grow up seaweed in such a way.

The installation developed by polytechnicians consists of the cultivation block - it is two high capacities where there is a process of cultivation of seaweed, control block nutrient medium for a chlorella, the block of heating and control block lighting.

"In control block lighting sets LEDs of three flowers: red, blue and white — we can create such emission spectrum which helps seaweed grow quicker. It is very important, the correct lighting promotes the accelerated growth of plants and seaweed. In the market there are systems of a dosvetka of plants, but they universal, and for each plant the mode is necessary. Installation allows to pick up a unique range for a chlorella. Now in Russia grow up a chlorella, but on it leaves from day to two weeks. At us for obtaining the necessary concentration about 12 hours in vitro leave, i.e. is at least twice less" — the project participant, the graduate student of Institute of physics of the TPU high technologies Alexander Malakhov says.

Installation is most automated, all processes of a dosvetka and support of temperature condition proceed without participation of the person.

"The end product is a liquid suspension from seaweed and water. It can be stored in the dark place within a month, saving all properties. So far we stopped on a liquid product, but then seaweed can be dried up or encapsulated" — the graduate student notes.

According to developers, installation cost for farms will be several hundred thousands of rubles. Also developers consider option of sale of already ready additive to farms.

"Technologies of cultivation of a chlorella came from Soviet period, then grew up it in the greenhouses using sunlight or electric lamps. According to the Soviet researchers, additive from a chlorella allows to accelerate a set of mass of animals, at chickens the class of eggs raises, the risk of a murrain due to increase in immunity at animals decreases. The installation developed by graduate students brings technology to new level. First, more energy efficient LEDs are used. Secondly, the growth rate of seaweed increases. In the third if earlier during cultivation of an alga mixed blades which damaged them, then here hashing happens to the water flow help. It helps cages to receive evenly light and heat" — the research supervisor of the project, the director of Institute of physics of high technologies Alexey Yakovlev says.