Mitigation of self-shading effect in embedded optical fiber in Chlorella sorokiniana immobilized polyvinyl alcohol gel beads

Abstract

The addition of optical fibers to improve light penetration into microalgae-immobilized poly (vinyl) alcohol (PVA) gel beads is proposed herein. Live/dead staining in combination with confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis revealed greater light penetration in Chlorella sorokiniana-immobilized PVA gel beads with optical fibers (PVA-OF) than in C. sorokiniana-immobilized PVA gel beads (PVA-NOF). The improved light penetration had positive effects on the initial nutrient removal efficiency, which resulted in a 1.2-fold higher initial nutrient removal efficiency in PVA-OF than in PVA-NOF. The use of polymeric PVA materials is effective for maintaining structural integrity. The findings demonstrate a methodology for mitigating self-shading effects in microalgae immobilized on opaque polymeric materials. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd