ABSTRACT
Microalgae are considered valuable photosynthetic microorganisms for various applications, from CO2 utilization, to production of nutraceuticals, to wastewater treatment. Irrespective of the final application of microalgae, the process of cultivation remains the same. However, the production capabilities vary depending on the choice of cultivation system. Various kinds of open and closed photobioreactors are used for high microalgal biomass production. However, the design of a suitable photobioreactor depends on light availability and/or distribution, CO2 supply-mass transfer, environmental/cultivation conditions including temperature and solar radiation, and mixing. To provide the necessities of microalgae cells, various photobioreactors have been proposed. We have reviewed these open cultivation systems and closed photobioreactors in this chapter.
