(Spiral Air Lift Tubular)
SALT was developed on the basis of Erell OLIVO’s 2007 thesis: “Conception and studies of a photobioreactor dedicated to the continuous production of microalgae in hatcheries”. It was subsequently applied in a second thesis written by Julie Marchetti on the “continuous microalgal culture integration in commercial shellfish hatcheries” in 2012. Subsequently, this technology has been used as the basis for the production of several scientific papers.
A technology unique in the world
SALT means Spiral AirLift Tubular. This patented technology describes the creation of a vertical spiral movement generated by an AirLift (by
air injection) in a tubular system. The spiral movement promotes light exposure and gas/culture medium exchange. It
thus brings an appropriate environment for the development of microalgae and the culture is homogeneous.
This technology is combined with a control system to automate the cultures. You can find this duo in the core of our three photobioreactors dedicated to microalgae: NANO, LUCY et JUMBO.
The advantages of the SALT technology
Concentration
Due to light exposure and the optimisation of the gas/culture medium exchange (water + nutrients), the concentrations obtained are up to 20 times higher than those from traditional systems. As an example, with Tisochrysis, a microalga used in aquaculture, the results are 130 million cells per ml, whereas in a traditional system the concentrations are between 3 and 5 million cells per ml. Another advantage of a very high concentration is the reduction of your water consumption (a more concentrated culture in a restricted water volume) and an easier downstream process (drying, extraction etc.).
*Results subject to variation according to the culture parameters
Productivity
Greater concentration means greater productivity. The average productivity is 1g/l/day. The geometry of our cultivation tools enables this productivity to be achieved in a smaller space thanks to the vertical tubular design. By reducing the surface area needed, you save on land costs. Or if you are looking for producing a lot in a restricted space, our technology is definitely for you.
Longevity
The spiral movement reduces the occurrence of biofilm, which increases the longevity of the cultures. In addition, our products are conceived to work in batches, in semi-continuous as well as in continuous mode for several months. A bonus is that the spiral movement is equally an advantage for you, the user. By reducing biofilm, SALT makes cleaning easier and reduces how often washes are needed.
Compatibility
The soft agitation present in our photobioreactors does not use pumps or screw propellors and is suitable for different species of microalgae and cyanobacteria. Now, we have already tested it with more than ten different types: Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina), Isochrysis galbana affinis Tahiti, Chlorella, Skeletonema costatum, Chaetoceros vulgaris, Rhodomonas salina, Chlorella autotrophica, Nannochloropsis gaditana, Cylindrotheca closterium, Odontella aurita, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Porphyridium. There are still many more species to be discovered. You can ask us for in situ tests and to check the SALT/strain compatibility.
Biosecurity
Cultivating in a closed system protects the culture from the risks of external contamination. For your culture to be started in the best conditions we have developed disinfection protocols. All our equipment is designed to facilitate efficient cleaning. A control system is present in every system to automate cultures. Thus, you can control all the culture parameters, such as the pH, the temperature, the agitation, and the nutrients. This will stabilise your culture and ensure that you have the same quality of biomass throughout the year.
