Photobioreactors (PBRs): An Inoculation Guide

How to Inoculate Industrial Plankton Algae Photobioreactor (PBR)?
The inoculation process with Industrial Plankton photobioreactor (PBR) systems is designed to be easy and user-friendly. Before starting, you will need to:

• Sterilizing the tank using the cleaning cycle and the CIP system (Clean-in-Place) is now complete.
• We recommend having 200 L of water in the tank already. This water would be added after the CIP. 

One of the most essential steps to securing a thriving culture is inoculation. The inoculum must be clean and free from pathogens. All you need is a 20L carboy with an air filter cap. This way, we avoid any contamination before it enters the bioreactor. 

• The first step in inoculation is sanitizing: 
  • Spray the quick disconnect fittings between the PBR and your air filter cabs with a carboy of algae inoculum. 
  • Click the disconnects together, making sure the line is not kinked. 
• Secondly, press the “inoculate” button on the central screen control.

All set! You will be able to hear it working and see the culture from the carboy decreasing in volume as it draws into the tank. At the same time, you will also be able to see on the optical density sensor the change in the tank from only water to water with your inoculum.

Having issues with your Sterile Alage Transfer?

👉 Check our tutorial

*Note, if you would like to learn how to perform a sterile algae transfer, using minimal equipment, please view our YouTube video, where our Biologist, Jen, shows you how! This is a great video for anyone new to algae culture techniques, or seasoned algae culturists looking to refresh their knowledge.

If you would like to learn more about our line of algae bioreactors for your hatchery, research facility, or biotech operation, please visit our Product page.