Hi guys,

i'm commencing a post graduate project, revolving around establishing a photo bioreactor, and increasing the effiiciency of algae biomass through a study on the light radiation. My background is physics, and although i have supervisors none that intimately know what i am doing.I am interest in the response in the visible spectrum (chlorophyll a &b peaks) and intend to do a crude experiment using an incandescent source, moving onto specific wavelength LEDs to observe the increase in biomass through replicates. (control, wavelengths corresponding to the peaks, flashing versus conitnous radiation with same net intensity) and possibly some work on the light gradient within out PBR if i feel likedoing some mathematics

 

Three questions:

besides a cell coulter, and the establishment of a an absorption calibration curve, how can i measure algae concentration?

my algae at the moment is in a bottle allowing 02 and Co2 in. however it's all as sediment at the bottom, if lipid content is more buoyant than my medium, why is this so?

Is their any work that can be done with fluroescence to calculate FRET values between or can we only establish a Photosynthetic efficiency. As this would be a nice accompaniment to my absorption measurements and could give me quantitative values.

 

Any academics offer any opinions, advice to felsh this out and make my dissertation A+ ?( it's an honours level project)

Froggy: reading your posts has me thinking you could be of great help to me. I would like to build a raport with you.

 

What are your qualifications?

grus0003:

besides a cell coulter  

  A coulter counter is the best practice. Ref'in this number from a machine such as this will offer credibility to your count. IMO, this is the gold standard.

grus0003:

Is their any work that can be done with fluroescence to calculate FRET values between  

  I have never been exposed to FRET so I cannot comment specifically on the use of equipment. After reading a few articles on it, such as this one, Im not entirely clear on what you expect to get out of this data.

grus0003:

  my algae at the moment is in a bottle allowing 02 and Co2 in. however it's all as sediment at the bottom,  

  You sure its alive? Sediment on the bottom doesnt sound too good. Also, CO2 can cause pH issues and thus, sedimentation.

I am but a simple Botanist, certainly not a phycologist. Grasses and carbon chemistry are my expertise. But I do know there has been a massive amount of literature on the light cycles of algae, photoflashing and the like. I take it you are doing a post graduate undergrad honors level thesis. IMO, most of your work will not be in the lab but doing the meta analysis on the literature of the topic. 

If I could make a suggestion that the real product of your study should be a accurate meta analysis on the topic of your choosing and the basic PFD and DOE that you plan for your masters thesis.