Building on its research into microalgae for industrial carbon capture, Cornersteel Systems Corporation continues to advance its in-house sustainability initiative at the Cabuyao plant with a new generation of smart photobioreactors. The study was led by Kyle Winig, a high school student from New Jersey, USA. It centers on a flat-panel airlift photobioreactor paired with a custom, low-cost monitoring system that tracks the key conditions driving algal growth — including pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, light, and culture density — in real time. The sensor system was developed by Electronics and Communications Engineering (ECE) interns from Jose Rizal University (JRU), under the guidance of Cornersteel engineers Jan Vincent Libutan and Erica May Reyes. By giving the team a clear, moment-to-moment view of culture health, the system brings new precision to how microalgae are grown and studied.

The research also explores how microalgae can help clean the water they live in, cultivating a hardy freshwater species directly in the plant’s own treated wastewater while turning an industrial by-product into valuable biomass. Early results have been promising, with healthy algal growth and sensor readings closely matching laboratory reference instruments. Reflecting Cornersteel’s ongoing commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility — and its investment in nurturing young engineering and science talent — this work moves the company closer to scalable green technologies that make industrial operations cleaner and more sustainable. For more insights on Cornersteel’s science-driven solutions, stay tuned to the Cornersteel Systems Blog.