Integrated measurement device demonstrator for phototropic industrial microalgae reactors

The goal of the project is to develop a series of instruments that  autonomously measures the physiological data of phototropic industrial microalgae and environmental parameters essential for automating algae cultivation. These instruments will integrate with algae reactors, processing measurements with timing aligned to the scheduling of production processes. The immediate objective of the project is to develop a prototype demonstrated at Technology Readiness Level 6 in a relevant industrial environment.

The innovation lies in the tailored combination and optimization of technologies and disciplines used in developing these tools. This includes microfluidic solutions for sample preparation, holographic microscopy, multispectral and fluorescence sensing for data acquisition, and machine learning-based algorithms developed for object classification and depth estimation.

Microalgae production holds significant potential for various commercial applications such as human nutritional supplements, animal feed, biofertilizers, biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics ingredients. However, widespread adoption requires reducing production costs through futher development of related technologies.

Microalgae play a pivotal role in the circular economy by facilitating nutrient recycling from waste, sequestering carbon dioxide, and producing oxygen. Urban wastewater, rich in nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, can be utilized by algae as nutrients.

The developed series of this instruments will enable the automation of production processes in phototropic algae reactors. These systems can scale independently of human resources, thus becoming more cost-effective and facilitating their widespread adoption.

Website: https://www.holodetect.com/