LUCY, the photobioreactor
for inoculum automated productive
LUCY
LUCY is a medium-volume photobioreactor designed to easily cultivate microalgae and cyanobacteria for medium-scale production or R&D.
With one or two independent 20-litre chambers, it allows multiple cultures to be run in parallel, with precise, automated control of all parameters.
Thanks to its advanced technology and full automation, LUCY guarantees reliable, reproducible and safe cultures all year round, regardless of the culture mode (batch, semi-continuous or continuous).
Robust, easy to use and fully instrumented, it is the ideal tool for accurate testing, validation and production.
User-friendly touchscreen
Data monitoring and recording
LED and photoperiod control
pH regulation
Temperature control
Effortless harvesting
Automated injections and sampling
Built-in desinfection and cleaning in place
Remote control and alerts
Batch, semi-continuous, continuous
Mobile and compact thanks to its wheels
Compatible with fresh water and salt water
Microalgae compatibility
Non-exhaustive list of microalgae and cyanobacteria compatible with our photobioreactors
- Isochrysis galbana affinis Tahiti
- Tetraselmis chui
- Rhodomonas salina
- Haematococcus pluvialis
- Botryococcus braunii
- Diacronema lutheri
- Chlorella
- Skeletonema costatum
- Chaetoceros calcitrans
- Isochrysis galbana
- Chlorella pyrenoidosa
- Scenedesmus
- Arthrospira platensis (Spiruline)
- Nannochloropsis gaditana
- Nannochloropsis oculata
- Chlorella autotrophica
- Dunaliella Salina
- Synechococcus
- Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
- Odontella aurita
- Phaeodactylum tricornutum
- Porphyridium
- Nostoc
- Thalassiosira weissflogii
Equipped with SALT technology
SALT (Spiral Air Lift Tubular) technology, developed by Synoxis algae, is based on gentle spiral agitation generated by injecting air into a closed tubular system. This design achieves concentrations 10 to 15 times higher than traditional systems!
- Very high illuminated surface area/useful volume ratio (S/V = 68) for excellent light exposure
- Uniform agitation that prevents the formation of biofilm
- Closed-system to ensure culture longevity
- Homogeneous LED lighting suitable for microalgae cultivation
- Easy and secure culture launch with Starter mode
- Direct and reproducible scale-up from lab to industry (NANO → LUCY → JUMBO)
- Technology compatible with fresh water, brackish water and sea water
How does it work ?
Start a culture with the Starter mode
Manage and harvest the culture
Like all our photobioreactors, LUCY allows you to control the culture parameters:
- Light intensity and photoperiod
- Culture pH
- Culture temperature
- Air injection
- CO2 injection
- Nutrient, water, and silica injection
- Sampling and harvesting
Choose the culture parameters that suit your strain and monitor the growth of the culture directly on the screen or remotely!
Automated cleaning
Our users share their experiences
“LUCY fully meets our expectations in terms of quality, performance and productivity”
Marinove
“LUCY meets all our expectations, is very easy to use and delivers more than convincing results”
Neomerys
« It’s a compact, easy-to-use photobioreactor, controlled by embedded software that can be used to define culture parameters and record data »
IFREMER Nantes
Discover all testimonials
Frequently asked questions
How much inoculum do I need to start a culture?
The volume will depend on the concentration of the inoculum you have available, the strain and the photobioreactor you are using.
Generally speaking, our photobioreactors allow you to start cultures with small amounts of inoculum thanks to the Starter mode! Starting a culture with 100mL of inoculum allows you to get off to a good start while preserving the sterility of your strain!
How does harvesting work?
Depending on the cultivation method, the biomass is harvested in a sterile manner using the dosing pumps equipped in the photobioreactor.
For semi-continuous or continuous cultivation, the nutrients and cultivation water are then automatically reinjected into the photobioreactor in order to preserve the culture for several months!
Can I use the photobioreactor regardless of my educational background?
Yes, absolutely.
Our photobioreactors are designed with and for our users. The system is intuitive and automated to help you take your first steps with a photobioreactor if you are just starting out.
For more experienced users, the culture parameters can be modified to meet the specific needs of all profiles.
Training and support are also designed to help you achieve your goals with our photobioreactor as efficiently as possible.
Answers from Hugo, business manager at Synoxis algae
Technical details
Dimensions (L x W x H)
2400 x 800 x 1970 mm for LUCY with 2 chambers
Total installed power
1850 W for LUCY with 2 chambers
Useful volume
1 x 20L ou 2 x 20L with SALT technology
Regulation range
15 to 60 ºC (for a room at 20 º)
LED WHITE
Ratio S/V : 68 m²/m3
0 to 250 µmol/m²/s
Compatible with sea water, fresh water, and brackish water
SALT is a patented technology developed by Synoxis algae to improve the productivity and longevity of cultures.
