Abstract
The idea of culturing algae in closed systems by sealing the reactor rim tightly with plastic bubble wraps material is being used here to harvest DiafuelTM (Biofuel from diatoms). In this manuscript, microalgae such as diatoms are grown in flask PBR sealed with bubble wrap material of low density, high density and normal polyethylenes and compared to control flask PBR which is kept open. It was observed that low density polyethylenes (LDPE) bubble wrap sealed PBR harvested maximum Diafuel TM (37%), lipid (35 µgmL -1 ), had highest cell count (1152 x 10 2 cells mL -1), 0% water loss, 0% nutrient uptake and maximum CO2 absorbance (0.084) due to its permeability to gases until the 40th day compared to other plastic bubble wraps. The LDPE bubble wrap was therefore tested on green microalgae Haematococcus which showed coherent results and can be upscaled for astaxanthin production.