Light penetration depth in high-densityChlorella cultures can be successfully estimated by Beer-Lambert's law. The efficiency of light energy absorption by algal cultures was so high that algal cells near the illuminating surface shade the cells deep in the culture. To exploit the potential of high-density algal cultures, this mutual shading should be eliminated or minimized. However, providing more light energy will not ease the situation and it will simply drop the overall light utilization efficiency.

Beer-Lambert's law can effectively estimate light penetration depth in high-density chlorella cultures, but reducing mutual shading is crucial for maximizing light utilization efficiency in photobioreactors.

Calculation of light penetration depth in photobioreactors

Key Takeaway: Beer-Lambert's law can effectively estimate light penetration depth in high-density chlorella cultures, but reducing mutual shading is crucial for maximizing light utilization efficiency in photobioreactors.