Spirulina platensis biomass composition is influenced by the light availability and harvest phase in raceway ponds.

The behavior of cyanobacteria and its potential use for biofuel production in scale-up conditions is a topic of growing importance. The aim of our work is to study the effects of illumination, stirring, and different growth phases on the cultivation of the cyanobacteria Spirulina platensis in 10 L raceways. The cultivations were carried out in a greenhouse under measured, but not controlled, illumination and in agitated raceways with stirring speeds varying from 0.