title: Production of biomass and nutraceutical compounds by Spirulina platensis under different temperature and nitrogen regimes.
abstract: The cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis has been used by humans because of its nutritional and possibly medicinal effects. Our study evaluated the influence of temperature and nitrogen concentration in the medium on the production of biomass by this cyanobacterium and the biomass composition in protein, lipid and phenolic compounds. We found that at 35 degrees C there was a negative effect on biomass production but a positive effect on the production of protein, lipids and phenolics, the highest levels of these compounds being obtained in Zarrouk's medium containing 1.875 or 2.500 g l(-1) sodium nitrate. Higher biomass densities and productivity were obtained at 30 degrees C than at 35 degrees C, but nitrogen concentration appeared to have no effect on the amount of protein, lipid or phenolics, indicating that at 30 degrees C the concentration of sodium nitrate in Zarrouk's medium (2.50 g l(-1)) can be reduced without loss of productivity, an important cost-saving factor in large-scale cultivation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Federal University Foundation of Rio Grande, P.O. Box 474, CEP 96201-900 Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciane Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Colla
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oliveira Reinehr
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reichert
authors.forename: Jorge Alberto Vieira
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000146:Acids, Carbocyclic / Q000032:analysis; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D008055:Lipids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D053545:Spirulina / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000146:Acids, Carbocyclic; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008055:Lipids; D009584:Nitrogen