Algal biotechnology is drawing increasing interest due to its
potential as a source of valuable pharmaceuticals, pigments,
carbohydrates, and other fine chemical^.^^^'^*'^^^^ Currently,
its application is being extended to the areas of waste
water treatment6"0"4 and agricu1tu1-e.~F~ur ther, the ability
to regenerate oxygen from carbon dioxide is key to the
design of an efficiently controlled ecological life-support
system.21*3' However, lack of suitable photobioreactors
(PBR) makes the cost of algally-derived compounds higher
than those derived by chemical and thus has
prevented widespread use of algal cultures.