Cultivation of Autochthonous Microalgae for Biomass Feedstock: Growth Curves and Biomass Characterization for Their Use in Biorefinery Products

This work is part of the research of the project “Integrated Plant for the fixation of CO2 in microalgae and its use in a co-digestion process for the generation of thermal and electrical energy” financed by the Junta de Extremadura (General Directorate of Modernization and Technological Innovation (PCJ1006)) where the following entities participated: CI Finca La Orden, AG Siderúrgica Balboa, Refinería Balboa SL, OGESA SL, Bioenergética Extremeña 2020 SL; SIEMENS SA, Extremadura Manure Manager €390,540. In this project, an integrated plant was configured to use different native microalgae collected from several reservoirs/lakes located in Extremadura (Arrocampo, Orellana and Brovales) to obtain bioenergy and biofuels, as well as valuation of biorefinery products. The plant consisted of 10 panel-type photobioreactors and 4 inoculation columns as a previous step to the photobioreactors where the microalgal biomass is produced. The microalgae were characterized and the biomass production of the species (Scenedesmus sp., consortium of Chlorella minutissima, Chlorella sp. and Nannochloropsis sp. named as “La Orden” (LO) and Chlorella minutissima named as “Charca Brovales”) was assessed. . Subsequently, the potential of each species as a generator of thermal and/or electrical bioenergy, as well as producers of biodiesel, bioethanol and biogas, was determined.