Described is a method for the culture of microalgae, comprising: providing a consortium of at least two living species of microalgae; culturing under illumination the consortium in a controllable bioreactor and under non-sterile aqueous culture conditions; and controlling the culture conditions for affecting at least one of the following output: (i) flocculation and/or settling of said consortium of microalgae; and (ii) adhesion of the microalgae to surfaces of the bioreactor; wherein said culture conditions are controlled to promote (i) and/or to minimize (ii), without adversely affecting growth of the consortium of microalgae. It is also possible to control the culture conditions for affecting iii) the protein, carbohydrate, and/or fat content of the said microalgae consortium. A system for carrying out the method is also described.

The present disclosure provides methods and materials for the cultivation and/or propagation of a photosynthetic organism. Such methods may comprise the use of a lamp assembly that comprises a plurality of circuit boards, each comprising at least three edges, arranged in a substantially spherical shape defining an interior lamp assembly volume, wherein the plurality of circuit boards comprise a first planar surface in contact with the interior lamp assembly volume and an opposing second planar surface comprising light emitting diodes (LEDs); and a barrier that surrounds the plurality of circuit boards forming the substantially spherical shape.

An open raceway algae cultivation system includes a channel configured to contain an algae cultivation fluid. The channel includes a contraction zone having a width and a depth. A pump is configured to circulate the algae cultivation fluid in the channel. A width of the contraction zone decreases leading into the entrance of the pump and a depth of the contraction zone is greater than a depth of at least a portion of the channel located outside of the contraction zone.

Embodiments include a reaction vessel having a first reaction chamber filled with a first material; a first light absorbing region adhered to an interior-facing surface of the first reaction chamber; a second reaction chamber filled with a second material; a second light absorbing region adhered to an interior-facing surface of the second reaction chamber; a temperature sensor disposed within the second reaction chamber; and one or more energy sources configured to direct light at the first light absorbing region and the second light absorbing region. A processor may be employed to determine a first temperature of the first material from a second temperature of the second material measured by the temperature sensor. Methods of manufacturing such a reaction vessel are also disclosed.

An apparatus and method for the optimization of growth processes of photosynthetic organisms by means of the use of an optical system of artificial lighting are provided. An apparatus for culture of photosynthetic microorganisms includes at least one first panel containing the photosynthetic microorganisms and at least one device for artificial lighting of the photosynthetic microorganisms. The at least one device for artificial lighting is an optical device and comprises an optical guide, a plurality of LEDs, and a regulation and control panel of the at least one device for artificial lighting. The regulation and control panel-is configured to vary both a spectrum, between 200 and 900 nm in order to optimize quality of light emitted, and light intensity, between 1% and 100% in order to obtain emission uniformity, through the optical guide.

The invention relates to a bioprocess container (10) having an optical measuring device (100) for non-invasive spectroscopic measurement comprising: a container housing (12), a port housing (102), which is connected to the container housing (12) and is sealed off with respect to the interior (18) of the container housing (12); at least one radiation-emitting element (124), which is designed to transmit electromagnetic radiation through the at least one fluid contained in the container housing (12); at least one radiation-receiving element (126), which is designed to at least partly receive the radiation which was transmitted by the radiation-emitting element (124); and at least one measuring insert (122), which holds and supports the at least one radiation-emitting element (124) and/or the at least one radiation-receiving element (126).

The invention relate to a light and temperature device for increasing and optimizing the production of biomass in bioreactors, said device comprising an LED light arrangement with LED light arrays and cooling fins facing away from the LED light arrays. The light and temperature device further comprising at least one fastening means for removably fastening the light arrangement to a transparent incubation vessel the LED light arrangement being oriented in relation to the incubation vessel such that light radiation emitted by the LED light arrangement in directed towards the incubation vessel.

Provided are systems and methods for spatially and temporally controlling light with an illumination device comprising a light source operably connected to a circuit board, one or more light guide plates, one or more optical masks, a controller, and a computer readable medium, comprising instructions that, when executed by the controller, cause the controller to: illuminate a cell or a substrate with light from the light source, and spatially and temporally control illumination of light to the cell or the substrate with one or more illumination parameters, wherein the one or more light guide plates provides uniform illumination of the light. Also provided herein are methods of screening using the system and/or device of the present disclosure.

The invention relates to a process and equipment for cultivating and producing a biomass from microalgae, primarily plankton. A microalgal biomass is cultivated in a single bioreactor chamber in the shape of a vertically oriented parallelepiped. The culture mixture is illuminated by artificial light sources mounted on the inner side of one of the broad walls of the bioreactor chamber in horizontal rows throughout the height of the bioreactor chamber. The culture mixture is illuminated cyclically. Spray heads are mounted on the inner side of the opposite wall of the bioreactor chamber so that 4 spray heads are arranged symmetrically around each artificial light source. The pH value of the culture mixture is maintained in a range of 8.5-9.5 by the addition thereto of a lactic acid bacteria-containing solution at the beginning of each light cycle in an amount of 1-3 ml per litre of culture mixture, said solution having a pH value selected in a range of 4.0-5.0.

In this invention there is provided an illumination system for a photosynthetic organism-growing medium. This system comprises a waterproof housing arranged to be inserted into a photosynthetic organism-growing medium and having a length along a longitudinal axis that is greater than a width. It also comprises a light source arranged to provide illumination along the length of the housing, and a diffuser arranged within the waterproof housing, the diffuser having a narrow end directed towards the light source and a wider end away from the light source and having a diffusive reflective surface arranged to diffusively reflect light from the light source to outside the housing.