title: Production of Fatty Acids and Protein by Nannochloropsis in Flat-Plate Photobioreactors.
abstract: Nannochloropsis is an industrially-promising microalga that may be cultivated for alternative sources of nutrition due to its high productivity, protein content and lipid composition. We studied the growth and biochemical profile of Nannochloropsis 211/78 (CCAP) in optimized flat-plate photobioreactors. Eighteen cultivations were performed at two nutrient concentrations. The fatty acid, protein content and calorific values were analyzed after 8, 12 and 16 days. Neutral lipids were separated and the changes in fatty acids in triglycerides (TAGs) during nutrient depletion were recorded. The maximum cell density reached 4.7 g∙L-1 and the maximum productivity was 0.51 g∙L-1∙d-1. During nutrient-replete conditions, eicosapentaneoic acid (EPA) and total protein concentrations measured 4.2-4.9% and 50-55% of the dry mass, respectively. Nutrient starvation induced the accumulation of fatty acids up to 28.3% of the cell dry weight, largely due to the incorporation of C16:0 and C16:1n-7 fatty acyl chains into neutral lipids. During nutrient starvation the total EPA content did not detectibly change, but up to 37% was transferred from polar membrane lipids to the neutral lipid fraction.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Bodø, Norway.
authors.forename: Chris J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2741-8402
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hulatt
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Bodø, Norway.|Bioprocess Engineering, AlgaePARC, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: René H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wijffels
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Bodø, Norway.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bolla
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Bodø, Norway.
authors.forename: Viswanath
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kiron
mesh_terms: D020418:Algal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018533:Biomass; D003470:Culture Media; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004867:Equipment Design; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D058086:Microalgae / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D058433:Photobioreactors; D058009:Stramenopiles / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020418:Algal Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D005227:Fatty Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid