Tubular Glass Photobioreactors: Why glass tubes are trusted and proven by the algae industry? GFIA, February 5 6, 2018, Abu Dhabi, UAE SCHOTT AG / F. W. Wintersteller
SCHOTT AG 2 Commercial Algae Cultivation Technologies Tubular glass PBR 50 years lifetime Highest areal productivity Flat panel reactor Systems with disposable polymer materials Lifetime 1 10 years depending on polymer Green Wall Panel Hanging polymer bags Open Raceway Pond Highest contamination risk High water evaporation PVC plates Source: Subitec Tubular polymer PBR LDPE bags Source: Prof.Tredici Floating polymer bags PE bags Source: Supreme Biotech PVC, PMMA, PE tubes typ. PE bags Source: Algasol
SCHOTT AG 3 Why Choose Glass? it s sustainable, it s virtually inert, it s 100% recyclable and it s beautiful Glass comes from nature Glass is made from naturally occurring ingredients abundant in nature. Glass is 100% recyclable Glass can be recycled endlessly with no loss in quality or purity. Glass has class Unlike other materials, glass adds a touch of class to the products contained inside. Glass is good for your purse You often think that glass is not cheap. Is this really true? Source: FEVE Zwiesel 1872 Enoteca Stemware Collection
SCHOTT AG 4 Why Tubular Glass? Let s Bring Light to Algae! World Record Light Transmission > 99% with Anti-Reflective Coating Glass Display Cylinder Light in Tokyo International Forum
SCHOTT AG 5 Roquette (Klötze, Germany) Since 2000, area ~ 1.2 ha, volume 600 m 3, 500 km glass tubes Roquette Klötze GmbH & Co. KG Currently the largest tubular glass PBR in Europe Reliable indoor operation of glass tubes for almost 20 years
SCHOTT AG 6 BGG, China BGG: expansion in 2014, PBR volume ~ 7.500 m 3, area ~ 40 ha The largest tubular glass PBR in the world
SCHOTT AG 7 Algalif, Iceland Founded 2012, 330 m 3, ~ 165 km tubes, indoor system Highly productive indoor system with LED illumination Testimonial: SCHOTT thin-wall glass tubes are preferred over low cost Chinese glass tubes due to zero breakage and tubes are equally long
SCHOTT AG 8 Cyanotech, Hawaii, USA Pilot plant in 2016. PBR area 350 m 2, volume 30 m 3 A tubular glass PBR pilot system at one of the world s largest open raceway pond (ORP) facility Pilot system supplied by Varicon Aqua Solutions, UK (partner of SCHOTT) Testimonial: Cyanotech examines PBR for higher areal productivity than ORP and predictable, plannable production
SCHOTT AG 9 Ecoduna, Austria Pilot scale production started in 2015; commercial production in 2018 Material Change form multiwall polymer plates to glass tubes in 2015 800 m 3 PBR in 1 ha glass house Testimonial
SCHOTT AG 10 South Davis Sewer District, USA (2018) Largest indoor PBR in the world, volume 1.600 m3 Waste water cleaning with tubular glass PBR* reduced 10x more phosphate and 3x more nitrate than conventional systems. *) Demonstration PBR in Spokane, Washington in 2014 with 531 glass tubes, 381 glass bends, and 675 couplings from SCHOTT Testimonial: SCHOTT glass tubing is preferred over UV-PVC tubing due to high, sustainable light transmission and easy, mechanical cleaning without scratches.
SCHOTT AG 11 Crystal Clear Benefits Productive Highest surface to volume ratio Highest areal productivity Bio-secure Closed system: low contamination risk Predictable and plannable production Durable Sustainable light transmission > 90% Lifetime > 50 years Resistant Easy chemical and mechanical cleaning Resistant against scratches and sagging Cost Efficient Low maintenance Low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Food Safe Food grade couplings GRAS classified glass tubes
SCHOTT AG 12 Glass vs. Polymer Tubes Glass and PMMA tubes show high transmissions PMMA Glass T ave in 420-720nm UV-PVC Transmission Air / Material / Air T air-material-air UV-PVC: T ~0 in λ<400nm and low T in visible Glass, PMMA: High transmission > 90% Tested Materials 1. SCHOTT Duran made in Germany 2. PMMA tube from a4f plant in Portugal 3. GF Harvel EnviroKing UV purchased in USA
13 Sustainable Light Transmission of Glass Tubes Glass and PMMA tubes are UV-stable Degradation of Transmission after 385 Days Exposure to Sunlight SCHOTT Duran Glass Made in Germany PMMA tube from a4f plant in Portugal GF Harvel EnviroKing UV purchased in the USA New After 385 Days
SCHOTT AG 14 Cleaning-in-Place (CIP) of Tubular Glass PBRs Scratch free with a pig Open pond cleaning is difficult Source: Clearaswater
SCHOTT AG 15 Cost of Glass Tubes for Large PBRs (Lifetime 50 Years) With Couplings and Bends or Manifolds up to 3 /liter
SCHOTT AG 16 Tubular Glass Systems are Bio-secure Food grade certificate for couplings and GRAS classified glass Couplings are food grade Glass tubes are GRAS classified FDA Regulation for substances in contact with food: CFR 21 FDA 177.2600 1. Tolerable leaching 2. All rubber components on CFR positive list The FDA classifies glass in general as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe)
SCHOTT AG 17 Summary 1. Commercial Tubular Glass PBRs (> 1 hectare) exist and operate profitably since almost 20 years, indoors and outdoors. 2. Long lifetime and highest areal productivity lead to attractive economics. High costs of glass tubes are a myth. 3. Closed systems are bio-secure and deliver predictable output. Production is plannable and cleaning is easy. 4. Glass is sustainable, 100% recyclable and GRAS classified (food grade).
SCHOTT AG 18 Information and Whitepapers www.schott.com/pbr
SCHOTT AG 19 Thank you for your attention www.schott.com/pbr