title: Microalgae cultivation in urban wastewater: Coelastrum cf. pseudomicroporum as a novel carotenoid source and a potential microalgae harvesting tool.
abstract: The aim of this work was to study the optimal growth and high value-added production of the microalgae Coelastrum cf. pseudomicroporum Korshikov cultivated in urban wastewater. It was observed that C. cf. pseudomicroporum grew ideally in this medium, acting as an efficient nutrient starver. Additionally, the obtained biomass increased carotenoid cell content after saltwater stress. The effects of light intensity and salt stress on its growth rate were analysed. The results showed that this alga can grow very fast using wastewater as culture medium, reaching maximum growth rates of 1.61±0.05day-1, and tolerating strong irradiances. It was also found that under salt-stress this species could accumulate carotenoids (range 1.73-91.2pgcell-1). Moreover, a good harvesting efficiency (96.84%) was observed using Coelastrum exudates as bioflocculant of Scenedesmus sp., so Coelastrum exudates could act as a potential bioflocculant for other species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cádiz, Avda. República Saharaui s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
authors.forename: Bárbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Úbeda
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cádiz, Avda. República Saharaui s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
authors.forename: José Ángel
authors.initials: JÁ
authors.lastname: Gálvez
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cádiz, Avda. República Saharaui s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cádiz, Avda. República Saharaui s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain. Electronic address: ana.bartual@uca.es.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bartual
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D002338:Carotenoids; D058086:Microalgae / Q000254:growth & development*; D044444:Scenedesmus / Q000254:growth & development; D062065:Wastewater / Q000032:analysis / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D002338:Carotenoids; D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Bioflocculation; Carotenoids; Coelastrum; Harvesting; Phytoremediation; Wastewater