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Cited by 13Algal biology and biofuel productionCarbon Dioxide Capture TechnologiesAquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics

The Use of the Autotrophic Culture of Arthrospira platensis for CO2 Fixation from Biogas Combustion

Open access
Dębowski, Marcin, Zieliński, Marcin, Vdovychenko, Alona, Kazimierowicz, Joanna·2024·Processes
DOI 10.3390/pr12020396
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Abstract

The increased concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has a strong impact on global warming. Therefore, efficient technologies must be used to reduce CO2 emissions. One of the methods is the biofixation of CO2 by microalgae and cyanobacteria. This is now a widely described technology that can improve the economics of biomass production and reduce CO2 emissions. There are no reports on the possibility of using it to clean exhaust gases from biogas combustion. The aim of the research was to determine the possibility of using Arthrospira platensis cultures to remove CO2 from biogas combustion. The efficiency of biomass production and the effectiveness of biological CO2 fixation were evaluated. The use of exhaust gases led to a more efficient increase in cyanobacterial biomass. The growth rate in the exponential phase was 209 ± 17 mgVS/L·day, allowing a biomass concentration of 2040 ± 49 mgVS/L. However, the use of exhaust gases led to a decrease in the pH of the culture medium and a rapid decline in the Arthrospira platensis population. The cyanobacteria effectively fixed CO2, and its concentration was limited from 13 ± 1% to 1.3 ± 0.7%. There was no influence of the exhaust gases on changes in the qualitative composition of the cyanobacterial biomass. In the culture fed with exhaust gas, the A. platensis population quickly entered the death phase, which requires close monitoring. This is an important indication for potential operators of large-scale photobioreactors.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

The study tested *Arthrospira platensis* in vertical photobioreactors to fix CO₂ from biogas combustion exhaust gases versus atmospheric air. Exhaust gas increased exponential-phase growth and CO₂ removal but caused a rapid pH decline and early death phase, without changing the main biomass composition.

Key findings

  • CO₂ in biogas combustion exhaust was reduced from 15.7 ± 1.9% at inflow to 1.3 ± 0.7% at outflow; biosequestration efficiency ranged from 87.3 ± 1.1% to 96.2 ± 0.6% depending on growth phase.
  • In the exhaust-gas variant, exponential-phase growth rate was 209 ± 17 mgVS/L·day versus 148 ± 12 mgVS/L·day with air, allowing biomass concentrations of 2040 ± 49 mgVS/L versus a control maximum of 1800 mgVS/L.
  • The exhaust-gas culture had a shorter stationary phase (3 days) than the air control (7 days) and then entered death phase; pH rose to 9.33 ± 0.09 after 12 days and later fell to 8.70 ± 0.12.
  • Biomass composition was similar between variants: volatile solids about 93%, proteins close to 37%, lipids 11%, and carbohydrates around 26%, with no significant effect of CO₂ source.

Methods

  • Two variants were run in vertical column photobioreactors with 10.0 L culture medium: V1 used atmospheric air, and V2 used cooled exhaust gases from biogas combustion; *A. platensis* UTEX 3086 was inoculated to about 250 mg VS/L, and CO₂ mass flow was set to 8.0 mgCO₂/min.
  • Exhaust gas averaged 15.7 ± 1.9% CO₂; the first two culture cycles were excluded from data analysis to limit effects of CO₂ absorption in the medium.
  • Samples were taken daily in five repetitions; analysis used one-way ANOVA at p < 0.05 with Tukey HSD, and measured VS, chlorophyll a, gas composition, pH, TC, TOC, TN, Ptot, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids.

Limitations

  • Stated: further research should determine the maximum exhaust gas amount that can be introduced without limiting CO₂ fixation or inhibiting biomass production, automate the process and possibly link exhaust gas addition to pH changes, and increase technical readiness level and scale for mass, energy, economic balance, and life cycle assessment.
  • Stated: a complete and reliable assessment of CO₂ fixation efficiency requires accounting for energy consumption during cultivation, which is only possible with pilot- or technical-scale data.
  • Evident: the experiment was on a fractional technical scale with 10 L photobioreactors and ended when the population reached death/lysis; no energy balance or life cycle assessment is reported, and the exhaust-gas culture required close monitoring because it entered death phase after only three days of stable growth.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.3390/pr12020396

Cites

87 of 87 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 13 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    In V2, the biosequestration efficiency of CO2 from exhaust gases ranged from 87.3 ± 1.1% to 96.2 ± 0.6% depending on growth phase and culture progress.

    “It was found that the efficiency of biosequestration of CO2 from exhaust gases (V2) was very high, ranging from 87.3 ± 1.1% to 96.2 ± 0.6% depending on the growth phase and progress of the A. platensis culture.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingreasoning

    In V2, after the death phase was observed, pH decreased to 8.70 ± 0.12.

    “In the following days, the death phase of the culture was observed in V2, leading to a decrease in the production of exometabolites by the cyanobacteria and a decrease in pH to 8.70 ± 0.12.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    In V2, the CO2 concentration in the gas flowing out of the V-PBR ranged from 0.5 ± 0.2% to 2.0 ± 0.1%.

    “The CO2 concentration in the gas flowing out of the V-PBR ranged from 0.5 ± 0.2% to 2.0 ± 0.1% (Figure 3A).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingnone given

    The culture medium had a hardness of 474 ± 14 mg CaCO3/L.

    “Considering that the culture medium had a hardness of 474 ± 14 mg CaCO3/L, the chemical absorption of CO2 by calcium or magnesium ions could have a significant influence on the observed binding effects.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingnone given

    Feeding the V-PBR with exhaust gases in V2 enabled complete removal of CO, NOx and SOx.

    “Feeding the V-PBR with exhaust gases in V2 also enabled the complete removal of CO, NOx and SOx.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 16
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 3
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 6

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    There was no significant effect of the CO2 source on the composition and characteristics of A. platensis biomass; volatile solids were about 93%, protein close to 37%, lipids 11%, and carbohydrates around 26%.

    “There was no significant effect of the CO2 source on the composition and characteristics of the biomass of A. platensis.Regardless of the experimental variant, the content of the basic parameters characterising the biomass was similar.The content of volatile solids was about 93%, the amount of protein was close to 37%, lipids 11% and carbohydrates around 26%.”
    • Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
      “There was no influence of the exhaust gases on changes in the qualitative composition of the cyanobacterial biomass.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    In V2, a strong correlation (R2 = 0.9421) was found between CO2 concentration at the outflow from the V-PBR and recorded pH; no relationship (R2 = 0.2302) was found between these factors in the other variant.

    “In V2, when exhaust gases were used, a strong correlation (R 2 = 0.9421) was found between the CO2 concentration at the outflow from the V-PBR and the recorded pH, while in V2, no relationship was found between these two monitored factors (R 2 = 0.2302) (Figure 4A,B).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    From day 6 to 10, chlorophyll a concentrations were significantly higher in V1; from day 11 to 15, no statistically significant differences were observed; on day 15, chlorophyll a was 6.47 ± 0.32 mg/L in V1 and 6.37 ± 0.18 mg/L in V2.

    “From the 6th to the 10th day of culture, significantly higher chlorophyll a concentrations were observed in V1.However, no statistically significant differences were observed from the 11th to the 15th day of culture.Analogue chlorophyll a concentrations were observed in both experimental variants.On day 15, it was 6.47 ± 0.32 mg/L in V1, while it was 6.37 ± 0.18 mg/L in V2 (Figure 6B).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The use of exhaust gases (V2) led to a more efficient increase in Arthrospira platensis biomass than air (V1), with an exponential-phase growth rate of 209 ± 17 mgVS/L/day versus 148 ± 12 mgVS/L/day, a statistically significant difference.

    “The use of exhaust gases led to a more efficient increase in cyanobacterial biomass.The growth rate in the exponential phase was 209 ± 17 mgVS/L•day, allowing a biomass concentration of 2040 ± 49 mgVS/L.”
    • Also stated in: § 3.2. Production and Properties of the Biomass · plain
      “In the logarithmic growth phase, the biomass growth rate was 148 ± 12 mgVS/L-d in V1 and 209 ± 17 mgVS/L-d in V2.The observed differences were statistically significant (Figure 5B).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In V2, chlorophyll a decreased rapidly after day 15 to 4.99 ± 0.16 mg/L at the end of culture; in V1, it remained steady from 6.67 ± 0.34 mg/L on day 16 to 6.16 ± 0.33 mg/L on day 20.

    “In the following days of the culture, a significant and rapid decrease in chlorophyll a concentration was observed in V2, which was 4.99 ± 0.16 mg/L at the end of the culture (Figure 6B).In V1, the concentration of chlorophyll a remained at a steady level until the end of the culture, ranging from 6.67 ± 0.34 mg/L on day 16 to 6.16 ± 0.33 mg/L on day 20 of the culture (Figure 6B).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    After 13 days, at the end of the exponential growth phase, V1 reached 1660 ± 74 mgVS/L and V2 reached 2030 ± 51 mgVS/L, with V2 significantly higher.

    “After 13 days of culture, a value of 1660 ± 74 mgVS/L was reached at the end of the exponential growth phase in V1.In V2, the concentration of A. platensis was significantly higher at 2030 ± 51 mgVS/L (Figure 5A).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In V1, pH increased significantly from the beginning to the 9th day of culture, and on day 20 it was 9.09 ± 0.1.

    “The pH increased significantly from the beginning to the 9th day of culture (Figure 3B).”
    • Also stated in: § 3.1. CO2 Biofixation and pH Changes · plain
      “On day 20, at the end of the process, the pH in V1 was 9.09 ± 0.1 (Figure 3B).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    After 20 days at the end of culture, biomass concentration was 1630 ± 81 mgVS/L in V1 and 1510 ± 48 mgVS/L in V2.

    “After 20 days at the end of the culture, a concentration of 1630 ± 81 mgVS/L was reached in V1 compared to 1510 ± 48 mgVS/L in V2 (Figure 5A).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In V1, CO2 concentration was reduced to an average of 310 ± 20 ppm, oxygen increased to 21.4 ± 0.2%, and NOx and SOx present in the air were removed.

    “In V1, the CO2 concentration was reduced to an average level of 310 ± 20 ppm (Table 1 and Figure 3A), the amount of oxygen was increased to 21.4 ± 0.2% and the NOx and SOx present in the air were removed.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In V2, the stationary phase lasted 3 days on average, after which the A. platensis culture entered the death phase.

    “In V2, this phase was significantly shorter, lasting 3 days on average, and the biomass concentration was 2010 ± 56 mgVS/L.After this time, the A. platensis culture entered the death phase.”
    • Also stated in: § Abstract · plain
      “In the culture fed with exhaust gas, the A. platensis population quickly entered the death phase, which requires close monitoring.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In V1, the stationary phase lasted 7 days on average and ended at 1760 ± 72 mgVS/L; in V2, it lasted 3 days on average and ended at 2010 ± 56 mgVS/L.

    “In V1, this phase lasted an average of 7 days, and at its end, a cyanobacterial biomass concentration of 1760 ± 72 mgVS/L was observed.In V2, this phase was significantly shorter, lasting 3 days on average, and the biomass concentration was 2010 ± 56 mgVS/L.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    Cultivation with air was characterised by much greater stability than the exhaust gas-fed culture.

    “Cultivation with air was characterised by much greater stability and a long phase of stationary growth.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    Using CO2 from biogas combustion, A. platensis had a higher growth rate in the logarithmic growth phase than in the control.

    “Using this CO2 source, a higher growth rate of the biomass in the logarithmic growth phase and higher concentrations of cyanobacteria in the photobioreactors were also observed.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Only a few microalgae species tolerate high levels of SOx and NOx, so strain selection is important for the efficiency of CO2 fixation from exhaust gases.

    “It has been proven that only a few microalgae species tolerate high levels of SOx and NOx.Therefore, the selection of strains is important for the efficiency of CO2 fixation from exhaust gases [61,62].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [61] Ho, 2011, Perspectives on Microalgal CO2-Emission Mitigation Systems—A Review, Biotechnol. Adv. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [62] Jiang, 2013, Utilization of Simulated Flue Gas for Cultivation of Scenedesmus Dimorphus, Bioresour. Technol. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    A. platensis is highly tolerant to changing environmental conditions, is relatively simple to cultivate, separate and harvest, has a fast growth rate, and is highly adaptable to difficult development conditions.

    “A. platensis is a species with a high tolerance to changing environmental conditions.It is characterised by a relatively simple cultivation, separation and harvesting technique as well as a fast growth rate [48].”
    • Also stated in: § 3.1. CO2 Biofixation and pH Changes · plain
      “The choice of Arthrospira platensis for research was based on the fact that this species is highly adaptable to difficult development conditions [50].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [48] Plaza, 2020, Effect of the Foliar Application of Cyanobacterial Hydrolysate (Arthrospira platensis) on the Growth of Petunia x Hybrida under Salinity Conditions, J. Appl. Phycol. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [50] Markou, G., Kougia, E., Arapoglou, D., Chentir, I., Andreou, V., and Tzovenis, I. (2023). Production of Arthrospira Platensis: Effects on Growth and Biochemical Composition of Long-Term Acclimatization at Different Salinities. Bioengineering, 10. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Exhaust gas from biogas combustion as a CO2 source has been considered promising, but the assumptions described were not based on research.

    “So far, this source of CO2 has been considered promising, but the assumptions described were not based on research [46,47].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [46] Morales, 2020, Biomitigation of CO2 from Flue Gas by Scenedesmus Obtusiusculus AT-UAM Using a Hybrid Photobioreactor Coupled to a Biomass Recovery Stage by Electro-Coagulation-Flotation, Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [47] Park, S., Ahn, Y., Pandi, K., Ji, M.K., Yun, H.S., and Choi, J.Y. (2019). Microalgae Cultivation in Pilot Scale for Biomass Production Using Exhaust Gas from Thermal Power Plants. Energies, 12. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    The use of exhaust gases is beneficial in the short term but in the long term leads to negative changes in the A. platensis population, mainly rapid transition to the death phase and dynamic biomass decline after 15 days of cultivation.

    “Analysing the chlorophyll a content in V-PBR proved that the use of exhaust gases is beneficial in the short term.In the long term, however, it leads to negative changes in the population of A. platensis.This is mainly determined by the rapid transition to the death phase and the dynamic decline in biomass after 15 days of cultivation.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    The tests were carried out in five repetitions for both research variants.

    “The tests were carried out in five repetitions for both research variants.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The volume flow of gases in both reactors was the same.

    “As a result, the volume flow of the gases in both reactors was the same.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    In both series, the CO2 mass flow rate fed to the V-PBR was set to 8.0 mgCO2/min.

    “In both series, the CO2 mass flow rate fed to the V-PBR was set to 8.0 mgCO2/min.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The results of the first two culture cycles were not included in the data analysis in order to limit the effects of water absorption of CO2 in the culture medium on the biosequestration results.

    “In order to limit the effects of the process of water absorption of CO2 in the culture medium on the biosequestration results obtained, the results of the first two culture cycles were not included in the data analysis.”
    • Also stated in: § 3.1. CO2 Biofixation and pH Changes · plain
      “The results of the first two cultivation cycles were not considered when analysing the experimental data.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    Statistical analysis used one-way analysis of variance with significance level p < 0.05 and the Tukey HSD test for differences between means.

    “The statistical analysis was performed using a oneway analysis of variance with the assumed significance level (p < 0.05).The differences between the mean values of the variables were tested using the Tukey HSD test (Statistica 13.3 PL).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
22 of 22

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    There are no reports on the possibility of using microalgae or cyanobacteria to clean exhaust gases from biogas combustion.

    “There are no reports on the possibility of using it to clean exhaust gases from biogas combustion.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Too low CO2 concentrations in photobioreactors are one of the main factors limiting the efficiency of biomass production of microalgae and cyanobacteria.

    “It has been proven that too low CO2 concentrations in PBR are one of the main factors limiting the efficiency of biomass production of microalgae and cyanobacteria.”
2 of 2

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Microalgae-based systems can be effectively used in wastewater and leachate treatment, waste and sewage sludge neutralisation, carbon dioxide biostorage, biogas upgrading, and flue gas cleaning.

    “Previous studies have shown that microalgae-based systems can be effectively used in wastewater and leachate treatment, waste and sewage sludge neutralisation, carbon dioxide biostorage, biogas upgrading, and flue gas cleaning [22-27].”

    From Multi-Sensing Monitoring of the Microalgae Biomass Cultivation Systems for Biofuels and Added Value Products Synthesis—Challenges and Opportunities (2025) · cites this paper as [23]

    The Introduction (page not provided) describes microalgae and cyanobacteria capturing CO2 and using wastewater and post-digestion leachate in cultivation; the paper also studies CO2 fixation from biogas-combustion exhaust. It does not establish the full list of effective applications: in particular, it does not show waste or sewage-sludge neutralisation or biogas upgrading, and using leachate as a growth medium is not the same as demonstrating its treatment. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • The reported inlet CO2 concentration differs from the measured exhaust-gas value

    Major

    The conclusion says CO2 was reduced from 13 ± 1%, but Table 1 reports 15.7 ± 1.9% for the V2 inflow. These are different starting concentrations for the reported capture result.

  • V2 is reported to have both a strong correlation and no relationship

    Minor

    The same sentence assigns V2 a strong relationship between outlet CO2 concentration and pH (R2 = 0.9421) and then says there is no relationship between those factors in V2 (R2 = 0.2302).

2 of 2

Cites

1 retracted

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 6

  1. Kaur, H. (2022). Greenhouse Gases: Sources, Sinks and Mitigation, Springer.
  2. Guduru, R.K., Gupta, A.A., and Dixit, U. (2022). Emerging Carbon Capture Technologies towards a Sustainable Future, Elsevier.
  3. Morgado, F., and Vieira, L.R. (2021). Affordable and Clean Energy, Springer.
  4. Venkiteshwaran, K., Xie, T., Seib, M., Tale, V.P., and Zitomer, D. (2022). Integrated Wastewater Management and Valorization Using Algal Cultures, Elsevier.
  5. Wehr, J., and Janse van Vuuren, S. (2024). Wetzel’s Limnology, Academic Press.
  6. Saber, A.A., El-Refaey, A.A., Saber, H., Singh, P., van Vuuren, S.J., and Cantonati, M. (2022). Handbook of Algal Biofuels, Elsevier.

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Related

Authors
Dębowski, M., Zieliński, M., Vdovychenko, A., & Kazimierowicz, J.
Affiliations
  • University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (PL)
  • National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” (UA)
  • Bialystok University of Technology (PL)
Corresponding author
Dębowski, Marcin
ORCID
Venue
Processes
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2024-02-16
Volume
12
Issue
2
Pages
396
ISSN
2227-9717 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/pr12020396
OpenAlex
W4391879318
Semantic Scholar
626a1a85547135c9eec5d58b126e056e02f60e29
Cited by
13
References
79
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 2
FWCI
0.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
Processes (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • University of Warmia and Mazury (29.610.023-110, WZ/WB-IIŚ/3/2022)
  • Minister of Education and Science (29.610.023-110, WZ/WB-IIŚ/3/2022)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Carbon Dioxide Capture Technologies
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Aquatic Ecosystems and Phytoplankton Dynamics
Keywords
Spirulina platensis, cyanobacteria, CO2 fixation, carbon dioxide removal, microalgae cultivation, photobioreactors, CO2 emission reduction, pH reduction, growth phase

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