Environmental photobioreactor array (epbra) system and methods related thereto

A method comprising testing and/or characterizing a biomass using a system comprising one or more environmental photobioreactor arrays, each array containing two or more modular photobioreactors, wherein the system is adapted:

• to monitor and modulate conditions within two or more modular of the photobioreactors;
• and/or
• to measure one or more physiological parameter of a biomass contained within two or more modular of the photobioreactors;
• wherein the biomass is tested and/or characterized.

A method of extracting a biofuel from a biomass comprising:

• obtaining an aqueous suspension of biomass from a system comprising one or more environmental photobioreactor arrays, each array containing two or more modular photobioreactors, wherein the system is adapted:
• to monitor and modulate conditions within two or more modular of the photobioreactors;
• and/or
• to measure one or more physiological parameters of a biomass contained within two or more modular of the photobioreactors;
• adding to the aqueous suspension of biomass at least one organic solvent immiscible or substantially immiscible with water to generate an organic-aqueous mixture;
• and
• subjecting the organic-aqueous mixture to evaporation of water and biofuel extraction, to obtain:
• an organic phase comprising biofuels and the organic solvent;
• and
• a semi-solid phase comprising a residue of the biomass.