CEVA puts all its expertise at your service for monitoring water quality and malfunctions in marine aquatic vegetation, and for the sustainable management of natural resources. The EENVI team has a wide range of equipment, particularly for environmental monitoring (aerial, at sea, and on land) and for setting up laboratory experiments.

Environmental monitoring

Sampling and monitoring of physicochemical parameters of seawater

• ADCP Sentinel V
• Mutliparameters probes WiMo+ NKE, Hydrolab HL7 et WTW Multi 3630 IDS  (Chla, turbidity, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, CDOM)
• PAR Quantum sensor Li-Cor
• Niskin bottles
• AQUINOX refregirated seawater sampling system

• H2S gas detectors
• Set of individual cartridge gas masks

Long-term data mapping

Georeferencing of images (aerial or ground truth) and assessment of coastal habitat cover rates (shore algae, seaweed, substrates, etc.) using GIS software (ArcGIS Pro).

Multi-year data acquisition allows for statistical analysis of the frequency of green algae deposits observed over a period of more than 10 years.

Processing of multispectral images acquired by satellite and drone.

Hyperspectral aerial image processing

Cross-referencing operations

Modelisation

Prediction model for algal blooms based on terrigenous nitrogen fluxes in the Bay of Saint-Brieuc

Coastal environmental management tool.

The EcoMARS3D-Ulves ecological model aims to model the proliferation of Ulva (sea lettuce) in the coastal water body under different nitrate concentration scenarios originating from watersheds.

Green algae growth is simulated by calculating nutrient dispersion, with terrigenous inputs being the main contributors. The Ifremer ECO-MARS3D hydrodynamic and biochemical model is thus coupled with an Ulva growth model (Perrot et al. 2014).

The CEVA provides the tools you need for characterizing and managing natural resources, for developing and optimizing farming methods and techniques and for evaluating the production potential of algae species.

Land-based cultivation area

Equipment for microalgae conservation and culture

• 40m² thermoregulated cultivation room
• 16L photobioréactor Lucy-type
• Thermoregulated chambers
• 300L, 120L and 30L cultivation system
• Raceways of 12m²
• Cultivation flasks and bottles (From 100mL to 10L)
• Laminar flow hood
• Automated open-source Raspberry Pi monitoing system (temperature, pH, dissolve O2)
• Filtered air and seawater supply
• -CO² supply with 7-way PLC (Serv’Instrumentation)

Equipment for seaweed conservation and culture

• 60m² thermoregulated cultivation room
• 8m² thermoregulated room with white and red light
• Thermoregulated chambers
• Cultivation tanks (From 300L to 600L)
• Raceways of 12m2
• Led lighting systems with adjustable intensity and wavelength
• Cultivation setups for ecophysiological measurements (From 8L to 20L)
• Cultivation balloons and bottles (From 100mL to 10L)
• Automated open-source Raspberry Pi monitoing system (temperature, pH, dissolve O2)
• Cultivation temperature control systems
• Filtered air and seawater supply
• CO2 supply system

Analytical equipment

• ZEISS Axio Lab.A1 microscope / ZEN 2 software
• Eclipse Ts2 Nikon inverted microscope
• Binocular microscope
• Spectrum cells counter
• Sorvall LYNX 6000 centrifuge
• EPOCH2TSC plate reader
• Vertical flow hood (Esco Airstream class II)
• Laminar flow hood (Esco Airstream)
• Steam A-line 250L autoclave
• Freezer Thermo -80°C
• Refractometer / pH meter / PAR Quantum sensor

Equipement for outdoor algae cultivation

• 250m² outdoor space
• 150m² greenhouse space
• Circular basins of 880L et 5m3 Nouveauté – FEDER 2023-2024
• Raceways of 12m2
• HOBO probe (Temperature / Brightness)
• Automated regulation / supplementation system
• Harvesting system / spin-dryer (dito sama 330 rpm)

Seawater pumping and treatment plants

• 60m3, 15m3 et 6m3c tanks for seawater storage
• Seawater distribution system in cultivation rooms and outdoor platform
• Filtration system up to 20 µm
• Seawater treatment plants

The seawater used for our experiments is collected and stored in a 10m3 tank for treatment:

• Sand filter (size 0.8-1.6mm)
• Bag filter (5µm / 1µm)
• UV lamp (germicidial dose – 400mJ/cm²)

Main harvesting and drying equipment

• High speed disc stack centrifuge FLOTTWEG AC 1000
• SWECO vibrating screen / Rotary sieve ROTOSIEVE
• 2 SEITZ and FILTROX filter presses with hollow frames
• Contact disc dryer ALLGAIER CDry-501 Lab (5-10kg/h)
• CRYORIVOIRE freeze-dryer (40L)

Off-shore cultivation area

Concession and equipment for offshore cultivation and monitoring

• 6ha deep water concession
• Co-cultivation of seaweed, shells and echinoderms
• Modular structure in floating rafts, each offering 550m of cultivation lines
• Bridged structure (13*17m) with 3 cultivation area (3,5*9m)
• Multiparameters probes Wiko+ NKE, Hydrolab HL7 and WTW Multi 3630 IDS (Chla, turbidity, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, CDOM)
• Foxsea 660 boat
• On-board scale (Marel) Nouveauté – FEDER 2023-2024
• 4×4 Hilux vehicule

Application kitchen

Our new application kitchen is perfectly suited to host your food development projects :

• A dedicated space, with professional equipment
• A tool to “test and taste”
• A co-creation space, ideal for ideation and formulation sessions with your collaborators
• A convenient  accomodation for our workshops and trainings on the food uses of algae

new – FEDER 2020-2021

Laboratories

We offer a complete infrastructure of specialised laboratories dedicated to the processing and physico-chemical analysis of algae. From sample preparation to extractions, hydrolysis and fermentation, we offer you tailor-made solutions to meet your specific needs.

Take advantage of our recognised expertise and state-of-the-art equipment to carry out specific analyses or your own developments.

Analytical equipment :

Liquid chromatography

• 2 HPLCs, 1 FPLC
• RI and UV detection
• Large range of analytical and semi-preparative columns
• Size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC)
• New hybrid analytical/semi-preparative HPLC system – new – FEDER 2023-2024
• Fraction collector

 Physico-chemical analyses

• Viscosimeters (Brookfield), Texture analyzer (Brookfield CT3)
• Physico-chemical measures (pH, conductivity, aw, …)
• Titrimeter
• Analytical scales
• ovens, muffle furnace, infrared moisture balance

UV-Visible Spectrophotometry

• UV-Vis Spectrophotometer with autosampler – new – FEDER 2020-2021
• Range of colorimetry assays (enzymatic, chemical), turbidimetry
• Kinetics monitoring

Microscopy

• Optical microscopes
• Image capture and analysis software

Product and process development  :

Sample preparation

• Grinding of fresh and dry samples – Retsch GM200, ZM 200 and MM400 Mixer Mill – FEDER 2023/2024
• Drying (Thyrode, freeze dryer, oven, sand bath, dry bath, …)
• Dispersion (Ultra-turrax, Raynery, Lab500 Sonicator, …)
• Centrifugation (20×2 mL, 6×30 mL, 6x1L) – new Sorvall Lynx 6000 – FEDER 2023–2024
• Vacuum Filtration, dead-end filtration with Beco Integra Lab 140 P  
• Mivac Duo evaporator-concentrator 
• Ultra-low temperature freezer : Thermo scientific TDE series -86°C – FEDER 2023–2024

Extraction, hydrolysis, process developement

• Extractions (aqueous, hydro-alcoholic, organic) in batches of 1-10L
• Chemical or enzymatic hydrolyses, …
• UAE (ultrasound-assisted extraction)
• Agitated glass reactors (temperature control, pH)
• 7×500 mL multi-station unit for screening (parallel extractions, enzymatic screening, optimization of hydrolysis conditions …)

Purification and concentration

• Physico-chemical purification (selective precipitation, filtration media, decolorization, …)
• Ultrafiltration and tangential diafiltration modules (different volumes and membrane types)
• Rotary evaporators (1-20 L), Freeze-dryer

Fermentation

• Autoclave, PSM hood
• Instrumented fermenter (2 L)

Industrial Pilot Facility

The CEVA has a technological hall of 1,000 m² dedicated to the study and processing of marine and terrestrial plant biomasses and can perform a large range of unit operations for the preparation or transformation of biomass (drying, grinding, extraction, purification, chemical and biotechnological processing …). This technological space is designed according to the forward flow principle, and operated under good manufacturing practices and within quality standards set up for each service.

A packaging room is available for the conditioning of sensitive products and cold storage rooms with a large temperature range (+ 6 ° C and -20 ° C) are available according to your specific needs.

Our operational units

Grinding (powder and fresh vegetables)

• FORPLEX FL1 stainless steel grinder (300 kg / day)
• NETZSCH crusher (0.5-5 kg)
• URSCHEL COMITROL 3600 crusher (fresh algae and vegetables)

Homogenization / Mixing

• APV high pressure homogenizer (1000 bar)
• FRYMA colloid mill
• RAYNERI stirrer on stem for from 100 to 200L containers
• HOSOKAWA frustoconical mixer (20-250L / batch)

Extraction, chemical and enzymatic processes

• 3 DE DIETRICH enamelled steel reactors of 100, 1100 and 2500 L
• 1 800 L stainless steel reactor
• 3 agitated stainless steel tanks (800 to 1000 L)

Solid-liquid separation

• High speed disc stack centrifuge FLOTTWEG AC 1000 – new – FEDER 2020-2021
• SWECO vibrating screen
• Rotary sieve ROTOSIEVE
• 2 SEITZ and FILTROX filter presses with hollow frames

Purification and fractionation

• MILLIPORE ultrafiltration module with spiral organic membranes of 10 kDa and 1 kDa
• AMICON ultrafiltration module with 10 kDa, 3kDa and 1 kDa spiral organic membranes (500 mL to 20 L)
• PCI ultrafiltration / reverse osmosis module with tubular organic membranes (pilot)

Concentration and drying

• Rotary evaporator HEIDOLPH Hei-Vap Industrial (20 L) – new – FEDER 2020-2021
• Single effect concentrator  BROUILLON PROCESS (100L)
• Ventilated oven with trolley/racks FRANCE ETUVE (1 m³)
• CRYORIVOIRE Freeze-dryer (40 L)
• Contact disc dryer ALLGAIER CDry-501 Lab (5-10 kg/h)  – new – FEDER 2020-2021

Filtration of seawater

• 1 multi-stage seawater filtration line
• A range of products according to your needs