Microalgae Growth Determination Using Modified Breakage Equation Model

Abstract Simulation of growth rate and cells size distribution is important in order to predict and improve productions from microalgae. Aim of this paper is to use a modified breakage equation model to calculate the growth rate, the “breakage rate” and the particle size distribution of microalgae, which are changing over the time. Differently from previous mathematical models, various stages of the life cycle of Chlorella Vulgaris have been considered. According to the experimental data, the proposed method is able to predict the growth and, similarly, it can be extended to other kind of microalgae. This wants to be a new starting point for future development of microalgae growth kinetic.