Microalgae cultures were used for a WW treatment to remediate nutrients while producing biomass and recycling water. In these trials, raceway ponds (RWPs; 1 and 0.5 ha) were located next to a municipal (WW) treatment plant in Mérida, Spain. The ponds were used for continuous, all-year-round microalgae production using WW as a source of nutrients. Neither CO2 nor air was supplied to cultures. The objective was to validate photosynthesis monitoring techniques in large-scale bioreactors. Various in-situ/ex-situ methods based on chlorophyll fluorescence and oxygen evolution measurements were used to follow culture performance. Photosynthesis variables gathered with these techniques were compared to the physiological behavior and growth of cultures. Good photosynthetic activity was indicated by the build-up of dissolved oxygen concentration up to 380% saturation, high photochemical yield (Fv/Fm = 0.62-0.71), and relative electron transport rate rETR between 200 and 450 μmol e- m-2 s-1 at midday, which resulted in biomass productivity of about 15-25 g DW m-2 day-1. The variables represent reliable markers reflecting the physiological status of microalgae cultures. Using waste nutrients, the biomass production cost can be significantly decreased for abundant biomass production in large-scale bioreactors, which can be exploited for agricultural purposes.

Balaton Limnological Research Institute 8237 Tihany Hungary

CIESOL and Solar Energy Research Centre Joint Centre University of Almería CIEMAT 04120 Almería Spain

CIMAR Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología Universidad de Costa Rica San Pedro 2060 Costa Rica

CNR Institute of Bioeconomy 50019 Sesto Fiorentino Italy

Departamento de Innovación y Tecnología Aqualia 28231 Mérida Spain

Department of Chemical Engineering University of Almería 04120 Almería Spain

Department of Ecology Institute of Blue Biotechnology and Development University of Malaga 29071 Málaga Spain

Department of Plant Science Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences Széchenyi István University 9200 Mosonmagyaróvár Hungary

Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia 37005 České Budějovice Czech Republic

Laboratory of Algal Biotechnology Centre ALGATECH Institute of Microbiology Czech Academy of Sciences 37901 Třeboň Czech Republic

Spanish Bank of Algae Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 35214 Telde Spain

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Photosynthetic Activity Measured In Situ in Microalgae Cultures Grown in Pilot-Scale Raceway Ponds

Solar bioreactors used for the industrial production of microalgae

Photosynthetic performance of Chlamydopodium (Chlorophyta) cultures grown in outdoor bioreactors