title: Improving protein production of indigenous microalga Chlorella vulgaris FSP-E by photobioreactor design and cultivation strategies.
abstract: Fish meal is currently the major protein source for commercial aquaculture feed. Due to its unstable supply and increasing price, fish meal is becoming more expensive and its availability is expected to face significant challenges in the near future. Therefore, feasible alternatives to fish meal are urgently required. Microalgae have been recognized as the most promising candidates to replace fish meal because the protein composition of microalgae is similar to fish meal and the supply of microalgae-based proteins is sustainable. In this study, an indigenous microalga (Chlorella vulgaris FSP-E) with high protein content was selected, and its feasibility as an aquaculture protein source was explored. An innovative photobioreactor (PBR) utilizing cold cathode fluorescent lamps as an internal light source was designed to cultivate the FSP-E strain for protein production. This PBR could achieve a maximum biomass and protein productivity of 699 and 365 mg/L/day, respectively, under an optimum urea and iron concentration of 12.4 mM and 90 μM, respectively. In addition, amino acid analysis of the microalgal protein showed that up to 70% of the proteins in this microalgal strain consist of indispensable amino acids. Thus, C. vulgaris FSP-E appears to be a viable alternative protein source for the aquaculture industry.
authors: University Center of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. ccy.ncku@gmail.com.
authors: Chun-Yen
authors: CY
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors: Po-Jen
authors: PJ
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
authors: Chung Hong
authors: CH
authors: Tan
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors: Yung-Chung
authors: YC
authors: Lo
authors: Agricultural Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Department of Life Science, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Chieh-Chen
authors: CC
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
authors: Pau Loke
authors: PL
authors: Show
authors: Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chungli, Taiwan.
authors: Chih-Hung
authors: CH
authors: Lin
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. changjs@mail.ncku.edu.tw.|Research Center for Energy Technology and Strategy, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. changjs@mail.ncku.edu.tw.
authors: Jo-Shu
authors: JS
authors: Chang
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D017756:Aquaculture; D048408:Chlorella vulgaris / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D058086:Microalgae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D058433:Photobioreactors; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014508:Urea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D014508:Urea; D007501:Iron
keywords: Chlorella vulgaris; Iron ions; Photobioreactor; Protein; Urea