• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.189-193
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• 2001

Critical cell density (CCD), the maximum cell concentration without mutual shading in algal cultures, can be used as a new operating parameter for high-density algal cultures and for the application of the flashing light effect on illuminated algal cultures. CCD is a function of average cell volume and light illumination area. The CCD is thus proposed as an index of estimation of mutual shading in algal cultures. Where cell densities are below the CCD, all the cells in photobioreactors can undergo photosysnthesis at their maximum rate. At cell densities over CCD, mutual shading will occur and some cells in the illumination chamber cannot grow photoautotrophically. When the cell concentration is higher than the CCD, specific oxygen production rates under flashing light were higher than those under continuous light. The CCD was found to be a useful engineering parameter for the application of flashing light, particularly in high-density algal cultures.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.186-190
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• 2000

It has been reported that flashing light enhances microalgal biomass productivity and overall photosynthetic efficiency. The algal growth kinetics and oxygen production rates under flashing light with various flashing frequencies (5Hz-37 kHz) were compared with those under equivalent continuous light in photobioreactors. A positive flashing light effect was observed with flashing frequencies over 1kHz. The oxygen production rate under conditions of flashing light was slightly higher than that under continuius ligth. The cells under the hight, particularly at higher cell concentrations. When 37kHz flashing light was applied to an LED-based photobioreactor, the concentration was higher than that obtained under continuous light by about 20%. Flashing light may be a reasonable solution to overcome mutual shading, particularly in high-density algal cultures.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.189-192
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• 2000

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of high content of light-absorbing pigments on overall photosynthetic efficiency in high density microalgal cultures. The light harvesting complex II (LHC II) regulating gene of Rhodobacter sphaeroides, photosynthetic purple bacterium, was removed to construct a mutant strain that had less pigment content. The mutant and wild type strains were cultured under various light intensity by adjusting the distance from the light source. The productivity of the mutant strain was higher at high light intensity (over 118 ${\mu}E/m^2/s$) compared with one of the wild type , and was lower at low light intensity (34 ${\mu}E/m^2/s$). Especially, the concentration of LHC II mutant strain was 56% higher at 118 ${\mu}E/m^2/s$. The reduction of per cell pigment contents in the mutant strain lessened the degree of the mutual shading and thus enhanced the overall photosynthetic efficiency.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.78-81
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• 1999

Light penetration depth in high-density Chlorella cultures can be successfully estimated by Beer-Lambert's law. The efficiency of light energy absorption algal cultures was so high that algal cells near the illuminating surface shade the cells deep in the culture. To exploit the potential of high-density algal cultures, this mutual shading should be eliminated or minimized. However, providing more light energy will not ease the situation and it will simply drop the overall light utilization efficiency.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.817-822
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• 2000

A proper flashing light is expected to enhance microalgal biomass productivity and photosynthetic efficiency. The effect of flashing light on high-density Chlorella kessleri (UTEX 398) cultures was studied using light-emitting diodes. A frequency modulator was designed to flash LEDs, and the device successfully provided wide range of frequencies and various duty cycles of flashing. A relatively high frequencies of 10, 20 and 50 kHz were used in this study. These frequencies have very short flashing time ($2-50{\mu}s$), which corresponded to the time constant of the light reaction of photosynthesis. The specific oxygen production rates of photosynthesis under flashing light were compared with those under an equivalent continuous light in specially designed illumination cuvette. The specific oxygen production rates under flashing light were 5-25% higher than those under the continuous light. A range of cell concentration was discovered, where the benefit of flashing light was maximized. The photosynthetic efficiency was also higher under flashing light with frequencies of over 1 kHz, which was a clear indication of flashing light effect and the degree of mutual shading could by overcome by flashing lights, particularly at high-density algal cultures.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.442-449
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• 2004

Improving the light utilization efficiency of photosynthetic cells in photobioreactors (PBRs) is a major topic in algal biotechnology. Accordingly, in the current study we investigated the effect and suitability of photosynthetic pigment reduction for improving light utilization efficiency. The light-harvesting complex II (LH-II) genes of Rhodobacter sphaeroides were removed to construct a mutant strain with less pigment content. The mutant strain exhibited a slower growth rate than the wild-type under a low light intensity, while the mutant grew faster under a high light intensity. In addition, the specific absorption coefficient was lower in the mutant due to its reduced pigment content, thus it seemed that light penetrated deeper into its culture broth. However, the distance (light penetration depth) from the surface of the PBR to the compensation point did not increase, due to an increase in the compensation irradiance of the mutant strain. Experimental data showed that a reduced photosynthetic pigment content, which lessened the photoinhibition under high-intensity light, helped the volumetric productivity of photosynthetic microorganisms.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.125-128
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• 1968

The effect of number of leaf after heading time on the growth of residual part and translocation of carbohydrates were investigated with water culture condition. Mutual shading and root rot were prevented. The results may be summerized as follows; 1. The ratio of ripened grain in the plot of no-leaf, flag leaf, two-leaf(flag and 2nd leaf) and three-leaf (flag, 2nd and 3rd leaf) was 38.8, 74.7, 83.9 and 87.0% respectively. The thousand grain weight was 21.3g, as the lowest value in no-leaf plot and was 28.7g in all other plots. 2. The accumulation of carbohydrate translocated in culm was increased by increment of leave-cutting, whereas the weight of culm was decreased. 3. It was suggested that healthy flag and 2nd leaf can keep the ratio of ripened grain around 80 percent.