title: Chlorophyll production from Spirulina platensis: cultivation with urea addition by fed-batch process.
abstract: The cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis is an attractive alternative source of the pigment chlorophyll, which is used as a natural color in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products. In this work, the influence of the light intensity and urea supplementation as a nitrogen source using fed-batch cultivation for S. platensis growth and chlorophyll content was examined. Cultivations were carried out in 5 l open tanks, at 30+/-1 degrees C. Response surface methodology was utilized for analysis of the results, and models were obtained for biomass productivity, nitrogen-cell conversion factor and chlorophyll productivity. The best cellular growth was observed with 500 mg/l of urea at a light intensity of 5600 lx, whereas the highest concentration of chlorophyll in the biomass was observed with 500 mg/l of urea at a light intensity of 1400 lx. Overall, the best chlorophyll productivity was observed with 500 mg/l of urea at a light intensity of 3500 lx, providing the optimal balance between the cellular growth and the biomass chlorophyll content.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 580, B-16, 05508-900, São Paulo-SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlota de Oliveira
authors.initials: Cde O
authors.lastname: Rangel-Yagui
authors.forename: Eliane Dalva Godoy
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Danesi
authors.forename: João Carlos Monteiro
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.forename: Sunao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D008027:Light; D008954:Models, Biological; D009584:Nitrogen; D013997:Time Factors; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002734:Chlorophyll; D014508:Urea; D009584:Nitrogen