STUDYING THE POTENTIAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY TO USE IT IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TECHNOLOGIES

Abstract

The article discusses the potential of using modern biotechnologies, in particular microalgae, to reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and implement air purification technologies within the concept of sustainable environmental management. Microalgae are considered as promising agents for CO2 biofixation due to their ability to intensively absorb carbon dioxide and produce biomass. The main focus is on the efficiency of photobioreactors that provide controlled cultivation of microalgae. It has been found that atmospheric air with a CO2 concentration of 0.04 % is reduced to 0.013 % when bubbling through a membrane photobioreactor. This result was made possible by the introduction of a membrane module that removes oxygen, an inhibitor of photosynthesis that interferes with the normal functioning of microalgae cells. A mathematical model of the biorefinery process is proposed that takes into account the parameters of mass transfer, initial CO2 concentration, light intensity, biomass growth dynamics, and photosynthetic activity. The model makes it possible to quantify the efficiency of carbon dioxide absorption and optimize the parameters of the photobioreactor for specific conditions. The experimental and model results obtained indicate that the technology can be widely used both in industrial environments (air purification in factories, bioprocessing plants) and in isolated environments, such as laboratories, urban areas with high levels of pollution, or autonomous space modules. The study confirms the significant potential of using microalgae as one of the key tools in biotechnological CO2 utilization, which is especially relevant in the context of global climate change. The use of such solutions contributes to the development of environmentally friendly technologies, energy efficiency, and sustainable resource management as part of the economy’s decarbonization strategy.