Woofaa - Model STEM - Microalgae Photobioreactor Educational Kit

• Amount of metabolic CO2 emission per person: 1kg/day (ref: NASA)
• Number of indoor plant pot (D17*25 cm) needed to offset a daily CO2 emission: 2,777 pots (Project MINGDAO iGEM)
• Amount of microalgae fluid needed to offset a daily CO2 emission: 140L (NAMI)

1. The reactor is panel shaped 4L reactor with a single partition in indoor. The CO2 concentration of the inlet gas is 490 ppm and its flow rate is 1000 mL/min. After 24 hours, the concentration of the CO2 in the outlet gas is measured to be 146 ppm, with a consumption of 70% CO2. The reactor is able maintain over 70% CO2 consumption for the two week operation cycle.
2. The reactor is a tubular reactor with a volume of 1L in indoor. The CO2 concentration of the inlet gas is 450 ppm and its flow rate is 1000 mL/min. After 24 hours, the concentration of the CO2 in the outlet gas is measured to be 90 ppm, with a CO2 consumption of over 80%. The reactor is able maintain over 80% CO2 consumption for 250 hours of operation.
3. The reactor is a tubular reactor with a volume of 100L. The reactor is operated in an outdoor site. The CO2 concentration of the inlet gas is 400 ppm and its flow rate is 10L/min. After 72 hours, the concentration of the CO2 in the outlet gas is measured to be 45 ppm, with a CO2 consumption of over 80% The reactor is able maintain over 80% CO2 consumption for 18 days of operation and 40% CO2 consumption for 30 days of operation.

An experimental grade photobioreactor kit for the culturing of microalgae. 50L of fresh water microalgae culture and a bottle of nutrient liquid enough for one-year consumption are included. The kit is ready to use straight out of the box plug-and-play.

Maintenance Provision

• Monthly water changing:
  • Drain 1/3 ~ 1/2 of algae fluid to a bucket. Add few drops of bleach into bucket to inactivate living microalgae cells before pouring the fluid into drainage
  • Refill tank with direct tap water (in Hong Kong only). If there is an unusual strong smell of Chlorine in  the tap water, fill it into a bucket first and then use the water after some 12 hours
• Clean the tank surfaces as needed
• Monthly nutrient feed: ~10ml