A novel photobioreactor with internal illumination using Plexiglas rods to spread the light and LED as a sourc

The nutrient removal using microalgae in wastewater has received more attention in the last years. Due to the optical loss of wastewater, the reactors for algae used in wastewater treatment, have a small depth and they need large surfaces (like open ponds). In this study it is proposed a novel photobioreactor with an internal illumination using LED lights and Plexiglas End-Lighten rods. The light is concentrated using a reflecting funnel and then fed inside the reactor. With this technique the illuminated surface may be optimized and adapted to the algae ́s needs. Preliminary results obtained with Scenedesmus sp. and artificial wastewater show that grow rate and nutrient removal are comparable to previous results obtained with smaller 1-L batch reactor with external illumination. The use of this internal illumination source enhance the supply of light in a more efficient and economical way and improves the scalability of the photobioreactor.