Browsing by Author "Ortega Marca, Anabel Thalia"

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    Evaluación de condiciones operativas para el crecimiento eficiente de microalgas en fotobiorreactor tubular de flujo continuo
    (Universidad de Cuenca, 2025-09-01) Ortega Marca, Anabel Thalia; García Zumalacarregui, Jorge Alejandro
    This thesis evaluates the operational conditions that affect the growth of a microalgae consortium (MAAL 58) in a continuous-flow tubular photobioreactor, with the purpose of establishing the most representative kinetic model for biomass production. The effect of parameters such as temperature and light intensity was studied, controlling the pH at two levels (8.3 and 9). The methodology included the construction of a pilot-scale photobioreactor, daily monitoring of cell growth and nitrates, and the subsequent quantification of protein in the dry, lyophilized biomass using the Bradford method. The results showed that a pH of 9 and light stability greater than 6000 lux favored higher growth, reaching a maximum productivity of 22 mg/L/day and a protein content of up to 40.6 mg/ml in the final biomass. Upon validating the kinetic models, it was determined that the Monod and Monod-with-light-intensity models were inadequate, whereas the Contois model was the only one that provided an acceptable fit (R² up to 0.99), validating that the kinetics are influenced by inhibition by the biomass itself. Although the statistical analysis found no significant dependence of growth on the environmental parameters, it is concluded that the system is viable for producing protein-rich biomass and that its complex kinetics are best described by the Contois model.