Improving Spirulina platensis biomass yield using a fed-batch process.
Increasing interest is being shown in the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis because of its nutritional properties when used as food supplement and possible therapeutic effects. One of the most important areas being studied is the development of alternative nutrient sources which can be used to decrease the production costs of commercially produced S. platensis and obtain high productivity. Water from Mangueira Lagoon (Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil) has high levels of carbonates and a high pH and has the potential to be used as a culture medium for S. platensis, although some nutrient supplementation may be required. We tested the effect of unsupplemented Mangueira Lagoon water (MLW) or MLW supplemented with 1.125 or 2.250 mg/l of urea and/or 21 or 42 mg/l of sodium bicarbonate on the growth of S. platensis in fed-batch culture using a 3(2) factorial design and found that there the addition of 1.125 mg/l of urea resulted in a 2.67 fold increase times in the final biomass concentration of S. platensis.
Costa
Jorge Alberto Vieira
JA
Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Federal University Foundation of Rio Grande, P.O. Box 474, Rio Grande-RS, 96201-900, Brazil. dqmjorge@furg.br
Colla
Luciane Maria
LM
Duarte Filho
Paulo Fernando
PF
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018533:Biomass; D001938:Brazil; D003470:Culture Media / Q000378:metabolism; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D053545:Spirulina; D014508:Urea
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D014508:Urea