Figure 5

Photograph illustrating of Ph. autumnale biomass extraction at day 36. Panel a, fully grown culture at the end of the experiment showing coverage of the silicone loops inside the PBR; panel b, the loops removed showing the ease of the cyanobacterial biomass slipping off as one mass. If the cultures were left untouched a large mat would "self-release" from the silicone loops rising to the surface of the PBR leaving cyanobacterial filaments behind which were sufficient to re-innoculate the next culture.