Government jobs • Exam updates • PreparationIndependent information portal
RojgarRankYOUR NEXT STEP STARTS HERE
Current Affairs

IIT Guwahati Develops Two-Stage Microalgae Cultivation Process to Enhance Carbon Dioxide Capture and Bioenergy Production

By Published

Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) has developed a novel two-stage microalgae cultivation process that significantly improves carbon dioxide (CO₂) fixation, biomass production, lipid productivity, and bioenergy efficiency. The technology uses a high CO₂ concentration (15%) in the first cultivation stage to promote rapid microalgal growth, followed by a second stage with reduced CO₂ concentration (5%) supplemented with calcium and phosphorus. This approach achieves up to 25.7% more biomass and 35.4% greater CO₂ fixation compared to conventional methods, with efficient self-flocculation enabling a harvesting recovery rate of 98.46% at lower energy costs. The biodiesel derived from this biomass meets standards in India, the US, and EU. The research, published in Renewable Energy journal, was led by Professor Kaustubha Mohanty and research scholar Deepesh Singh Chauhan.

On this page

Key Facts

  • The two-stage cultivation process was developed by IIT Guwahati researchers: Professor Kaustubha Mohanty and research scholar Deepesh Singh Chauhan.
  • Stage 1 uses a 15% CO₂ concentration to support rapid microalgae growth.
  • Stage 2 reduces CO₂ concentration to 5% and adds calcium and phosphorus to stabilize pH, prevent nutrient depletion, and sustain photosynthesis.
  • Experiments were performed in a 2-liter bubble-column photobioreactor.
  • The process resulted in 25.7% higher biomass production and 35.4% higher CO₂ fixation compared to conventional single-stage methods.
  • Lipid productivity increased by 1.86 times and intracellular bioenergy efficiency improved by 37.65%.
  • Calcium addition promoted microalgal self-flocculation, enabling a biomass harvesting recovery efficiency of 98.46% without requiring energy-intensive methods.
  • On May 29, 2026, IIT Guwahati signed a commercialization agreement with Hyderabad-based Kaashyap Cleantech Innovations for a separate bacterial two-stage bio-methanol bioprocess, indicating IIT Guwahati's broader bioenergy research efforts.

Background & Context

Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms that capture carbon dioxide and convert it into biomass usable for biofuels such as biodiesel. Efficient CO₂ sequestration and bioenergy generation through microalgal cultivation are promising solutions for mitigating industrial carbon emissions and enhancing sustainable energy production. However, continuous exposure to high CO₂ concentrations can reduce photosynthetic efficiency due to nutrient depletion and pH imbalances. Conventional harvesting methods are often energy-intensive and costly.

IIT Guwahati's two-stage cultivation process addresses these challenges by modulating carbon dioxide levels dynamically and supplementing nutrients, which supports sustained photosynthesis and growth. Additionally, calcium-induced self-flocculation simplifies harvesting by forming algal cell aggregates, greatly reducing energy requirements.

Why This Matters for Exams / Exam Relevance

This IIT Guwahati development is relevant for syllabus topics including environmental technology, biotechnology, renewable energy, and climate change mitigation. Key points such as the institution (IIT Guwahati), the novel two-stage microalgae cultivation strategy, numerical values (15% and 5% CO₂ concentration, 98.46% harvesting efficiency), and the date of commercialization agreement (May 29, 2026) are potential points of examination questions, particularly in UPSC, state civil service, and other competitive exams with current affairs components.

Points to Remember

  • The process uses two CO₂ levels: high (15%) in stage one and low (5%) in stage two, with nutrient additives.
  • It leads to significantly increased biomass and lipid production compared to conventional single-stage methods.
  • Calcium addition enables energy-efficient self-flocculation for harvesting with efficiency of 98.46%.
  • Research published in Renewable Energy journal, led by IIT Guwahati's Department of Chemical Engineering.
  • Commercialization agreement with Kaashyap Cleantech Innovations was signed in May 2026, highlighting the pathway towards industrial application.
← Back to Current Affairs