A Study of the Processes of the Cultivation and Useful Products Accumulation by the Microalgae Chlorella vulgaris in a Photobioreactor with a Fiber-Optic Lighting System

The microalgae Chlorella vulgaris is cultivated in a thin-layer tubular photobioreactor with a unique design illuminated by a side-glow optical fiber. As a result of applying a method of intensive prototyping, the optimal design of the photobioreactor is found, and the maximum growth rate of 32 mg/L/day is achieved (against 8 mg/L/day in the case of control cultivation in a luminostat). The total protein content in the biomass obtained from the unit is 21 ± 6%, which is slightly lower when compared to the control (26 ± 6%); however, the revealed differences are not statistically significant. In addition, the levels of saturated palmitic (C16:0) and unsaturated linoleic (C18:2) and α-linolenic (C18:3α) fatty acids are increased in the biomass samples from the photobioreactor in comparison with the control cultivation. Thus, the potential of using a photobioreactor with the developed design for obtaining a nutrient biomass of the microalgae C. vulgaris for the life-support systems of crewed spacecraft is shown.