Method for producing algae in photobioreactor

A method for increasing the production of algae for use in biofuel in a photobioreactor system, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a perfluorodecalin solution;
• (b) mixing the perfluorodecalin solution with a biological growth medium, the biological growth medium being suitable to support algae capable of photosynthetically utilizing carbon dioxide;
• (c) adding the biological growth medium and perfluorodecalin solution to a photobioreactor containing algae capable of photosynthetically utilizing carbon dioxide;
• (d) adding carbon dioxide to the photobioreactor containing biological growth medium and perfluorodecalin solution such that the carbon dioxide dissolves in the perfluorodecalin solution and biological growth medium at a higher concentration than in the biological growth medium alone;
• and
• (e) controlling a temperature and agitation rate of the growth medium, perfluorodecalin solution and algae within the photobioreactor to maintain conditions sufficient for the algae to perform photosynthesis using carbon dioxide from the perfluorodecalin solution, thereby increasing the growth rate of the algae in increased concentration of carbon dioxide due to the increased solubility of carbon dioxide in the perfluorodecalin solution.