Physiology of alginate-immobilized Chlorella

Accumulation of cobalt, zinc and manganese by the estuarine green microalga Chlorella salina immobilized in alginate microbeads

“…However, there was a large increase in chlorophyll a levels in immobilized cells. Increased chlorophyll o and a decreased respiration rate were also observed in immobilized C. emersonii (27) as well as an increase in (Revolving photosynthesis (1). Thus, an increase in energy-dependent metal uptake because of such increases in photosynthetic activity is possibly one mechanism by which metal accumulation could be enhanced in immobilized cells.…”

Development of a new kappa-carrageenan hydrogel system to study benthic diatom vertical movements

“…Previous studies showed that microalgae growth could be improved by using hydrogels [ 32 , 88 ]. These studies focused on microalgae growth trends in hydrogels and liquid and their observations are similar to the ones made in our study: 1) non-significant difference between free cells and immobilized cells growth in the exponential phase, therefore showing similar growth rates; 2) higher final biomass in hydrogel; this is more predictable in our case since benthic diatoms do not grow in suspension and growing in a 3D space increases the surface available to colonize, resulting in a higher number of cells compared to a 2D space; 3) longer lag phase in hydrogel, not observed in our study, probably due to the already lower growth rate of the large species used in this study, compared with fast growing species like Chlorella where the difference is more noticeable; 4) higher photosynthetic activity in hydrogel (not investigated in this study).…”

Gel Entrapment and Micro-Encapsulation: Methods, Applications and Engineering Principles

“…emersonii cells entrapped in Ca-alginate matrix had reduced respiratory and growth rates, and a higher chlorophyll content than free cells (Robinson et al, 1985). Respiratory rate per cell was reduced as cell stocking density increased.…”