Mixotrophic cultivation of Chlorella for local protein production using agro-food by-products.
A local strain of Chlorella vulgaris was cultivated by using cheese whey (CW), white wine lees (WL) and glycerol (Gly), coming from local agro-industrial activities, as C sources (2.2gCL-1) to support algae production under mixotrophic conditions in Lombardy. In continuous mode, Chlorella increased biomass production compared with autotrophic conditions by 1.5-2 times, with the best results obtained for the CW substrate, i.e. 0.52gL-1d-1of algal biomass vs. 0.24gL-1d-1of algal biomass for autotrophic conditions, and protein content for both conditions adopted close to 500gkg-1DM. Mixotrophic conditions gave a much higher energy recovery efficiency (EF) than autotrophic conditions, i.e. organic carbon energy efficiency (EFoc) of 32% and total energy efficiency (Eft) of 8%, respectively, suggesting the potential for the culture of algae as a sustainable practice to recover efficiently waste-C and a means of local protein production.
Gruppo Ricicla - DiSAA, Università degli Studi di Milano, Lab., Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy; AJRP Algae Joint Research Platform, UNIMI, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy and PTP Science Park, Via Einstein, Loc. C.na Codazza, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Silvia
S
Salati
Gruppo Ricicla - DiSAA, Università degli Studi di Milano, Lab., Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy; AJRP Algae Joint Research Platform, UNIMI, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy and PTP Science Park, Via Einstein, Loc. C.na Codazza, 26900 Lodi, Italy. Electronic address: giuliana.dimporzano@unimi.it.
Giuliana
G
D'Imporzano
AJRP Algae Joint Research Platform, UNIMI, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy and PTP Science Park, Via Einstein, Loc. C.na Codazza, 26900 Lodi, Italy; Bioeconomia, PTP Science Park, Via Einstein, Loc. C.na Codazza, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Barbara
B
Menin
Gruppo Ricicla - DiSAA, Università degli Studi di Milano, Lab., Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy; AJRP Algae Joint Research Platform, UNIMI, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy and PTP Science Park, Via Einstein, Loc. C.na Codazza, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Davide
D
Veronesi
Gruppo Ricicla - DiSAA, Università degli Studi di Milano, Lab., Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy; AJRP Algae Joint Research Platform, UNIMI, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy and PTP Science Park, Via Einstein, Loc. C.na Codazza, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Barbara
B
Scaglia
AJRP Algae Joint Research Platform, UNIMI, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy and PTP Science Park, Via Einstein, Loc. C.na Codazza, 26900 Lodi, Italy; Bioeconomia, PTP Science Park, Via Einstein, Loc. C.na Codazza, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Pamela
P
Abbruscato
AJRP Algae Joint Research Platform, UNIMI, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy and PTP Science Park, Via Einstein, Loc. C.na Codazza, 26900 Lodi, Italy; Bioeconomia, PTP Science Park, Via Einstein, Loc. C.na Codazza, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Paola
P
Mariani
Gruppo Ricicla - DiSAA, Università degli Studi di Milano, Lab., Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy; AJRP Algae Joint Research Platform, UNIMI, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy and PTP Science Park, Via Einstein, Loc. C.na Codazza, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Fabrizio
F
Adani
D000383:Agriculture; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D052818:Autotrophic Processes; D061249:Batch Cell Culture Techniques; D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D048408:Chlorella vulgaris / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D005502:Food; D005990:Glycerol / Q000032:analysis; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D000596:Amino Acids; D011506:Proteins; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen; D005990:Glycerol
By-products carbon; Chlorella vulgaris; Energy efficiency; Mixotrophic; Protein production