Synthesis of Nannochloropsis Oculata cultivation process based on mixed-integer formulations

Abstract

Sophisticated mathematical formulations and related optimization tasks are important to favor microalgae processing. This study focuses on the development of a mixed integer nonlinear programming approach to calculate design and operational decisions through simultaneous and rigorous approach under set of complex constraints and objective functions. Through a set of differential algebraic equations, whose model parameters are obtained through fitting a dataset available in the literature, three case studies are demonstrated for the calculation of optimum cultivation conditions based on economic considerations and biomass production. The case studies show the impact of the approach for the sustainability of the process as different conditions are primary defined by light color, reactor size, dilution rate, feed stream composition, and growing medium are required for desired tasks. The approach is flexible and further modifiable to various considerations for more complex decision-making problems.