Date:

2026-07-06

Impact Factor:

12.5

DOI Number:

10.1016/j.cej.2026.172587

Title of Paper:

Augmented microalgal production with reduced water use via a solar spectrum-tailored fluorescent film in lab-scale open raceway ponds

Journal:

Chemical Engineering Journal

Summary:

Microalgae, as third-generation biomass, shows great promise for large-scale production of commodity products, biofuels, and chemical feedstocks. Among cultivation systems, open raceway ponds (ORPs) are widely considered the most economically viable one. However, their widespread adoption remains limited by relatively low biomass productivity and considerable evaporative water losses, especially in regions with high solar irradiance and ambient temperatures. This study introduces a solar spectrum-tailored fluorescent film (STFF) that simultaneously augments microalgal biomass productivity and reduces water use in ORPs by improving the spectral quality of incident sunlight through photon management, which enables fluorescent conversion within the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) range while selectively blocking the remaining wavelengths to minimize thermal load. The as-prepared STFF exhibits optimized spectral characteristics for microalgal photosynthesis, combining high near-infrared (NIR) (0.7–2.5 μm) reflectivity of 0.7 with improved transmissivity of 0.6 in the blue (0.4–0.5 μm) and 0.7 in the red (0.6–0.7 μm) wavebands. Under peak irradiance (∼1000 W m−2), the STFF reduces microalgal culture temperature by approximately 5 °C in outdoor ORPs. Remarkably, the STFF augments microalgal (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) biomass productivity by 40.7 % while reducing overall water use by 24 %. These results thus demonstrate an efficient and water-conserving solution for microalgae cultivation in outdoor open-air raceway ponds, particularly in high-irradiance and warm regions.

Volume:

528

Page Number:

172587

Translation or Not:

No

Date of Publication:

2026-01-15

Included Journals:

SCI