Aim of the present work is quantifying the mechanical stress generated by some major
process equipment used in massive microalgae culturing plants (centrifugal and air-lift
pumps, and nozzles) and highlighting its effects on the microalgal population. Two
microalgal species were used as test cases: Chlorella vulgaris (unicellular) and
Scenedesmus dimorphus 1237 (colonial). The evaluation of the shear effect on algal growth
was carried out through measurement of absorbance, photosynthetic activity (oxygen …