On the Mass Culture of Algae. II. Yield as a Function of Cell Concentration Under Continuous Sunlight Irradiance.

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Abstract
An apparatus was devised to allow steady-state growth of Chlorella ellipsoidea under continuous visible irradiance equivalent to full sunlight. The culture used was 267 mm deep and 67 mm ID illuminated through a 50 mm circular diaphragm at an irradiance of about 0.5 cal/cm2-min. Yield (mg/day) was observed as a function of cell concentration. Yield proved to be more sensitive to cell concentration than expected, with an optimum of 140 mg/day at about 0.13 mg/ml. Explanation of the optimum was sought from auxiliary measurements of light transmission through the culture, chlorophyll content, and the irradiance curve of photosynthesis. An explanation is proposed in terms of the variable character of the irradiance curve controlled in part by chlorophyll content of the cells and therefore responsive to average irradiance per cell and cell concentration.