Improvement of growth rate and cell productivity by aeration rate in cultures of the marine microalga Dunaliella tertiolecta

doi:10.1016/0960-8524(94)90196-1

Bioresource Technology

Volume 48, Issue 2, 1994, Pages 107-111

https://doi.org/10.1016/0960-8524(94)90196-1 Get rights and content

Abstract

The effect of different aeration rates and CO₂ supply regimes on mass cultures of the marine microalga Dunaiella tertiolecta was studied. Eight aeration rates in the range 0–6.51 litres of air min⁻¹ litre of culture⁻¹ were tested. The results were compared to those obtained in non-aerated cultures into which pure CO₂ was introduced and to cultures into which air enriched with CO₂ was bubbled. The growth rate and final cellular density of D. tertiolecta in a sea-water-based medium increased with the aeration rate in the culture vessel. The maximal cellular density was 12.46×10⁶ cells ml⁻¹ under an air flow rate of 6.51 litres min⁻¹ litre of culture⁻¹, but evaporation and salinity increased sharply at this high aeration rate. The final cell density was proportional to the air flow rate and CO₂ following the range (figures being litres of air min⁻¹ litre of culture⁻¹): 6.51 = 3.72>1.86>CO₂ = (0.93+CO₂)>0.93>0.46>0.23>0.11>0 (Mann-Whitney test p<0.05). When D. tertiolecta was grown under a CO₂ supply within the optimal pH levels but without aeration, the cultures reached a cell density of 7×10⁶ cells ml⁻¹.

D. tertiolecta growth rate was inversely proportional to pH, the upper boundary for maximal growth rate being pH 9.2. Oxygen in the culture media produced by the photosynthetic activity of the microalgae did not inhibit growth. The dissolved CO₂ concentration in sea-water was the limiting factor for D. tertiolecta growth. At a pH value of 8.3, D. tertiolecta was not able to take up carbon in the form of carbonates dissolved in sea-water.

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Scytosiphon lomentaria is an edible brown macroalga globally distributed around the temperate and cold coastal areas. Developing the cultivation of S. lomentaria could significantly contribute to the seaweed aquaculture and compensate for its shortcoming, i.e. the fewer cultivated species and the monoculture products. This paper systematically reviews the life-cycle, diversity, seedling culture, as well as the cultivation of S. lomentaria on the bases of our previous experiences and published papers. Perspectives and methods of industrial development pertaining to this species are also briefly discussed. We also propose a new efficient cultivation of S. lomentaria, i.e. the “filaments-derived seedling”, including 1) the establishment of uncontaminated germplasm, 2) the amplificatory of filaments, 3) the reproductive induction of free-living filaments, 4) the in-door tank culture of seedlings, and 5) the in-situ cultivation. Such method possesses the advantages of simplicity, high stability and low-energy consumption, and it is thus considered to be a potential strategy for the future large-scale cultivation of S. lomentaria.
Enhancement of biomass, lipids, and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) production in Nannochloropsis oceanica with a combination of single wavelength light emitting diodes (LEDs) and low temperature in a three-phase culture system
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Sufficient CO2 supply via aeration leads to improved cell biomass production in microalgae culture (Mirón et al., 2000). This result is consistent with that of Fábregas et al. (1994), who reported that cell biomass production was significantly increased in Dunaliella tertiolecta by increasing the aeration rate. The cell biomass of Scenedesmus quadricauda increased from 0.23 to 0.38 g L−1 when the aeration rate was increased from 0.11 to 0.33 vvm (Thanh et al., 2016).
A three-phase culture system combining blue (465 nm) light-emitting diode (LED) wavelength as the first phase, green (550 nm) as the second phase, and temperature stress as the third phase was applied to a Nannochloropsis oceanica culture in 14-L photobioreactors. Microalgal growth promotion parameters were optimized in the first phase, followed by green LED stress for lipid production in the second phase. Maximum biomass and lipid production values of 0.75 gdcw L⁻¹ and 57.6% (w/w) were obtained at an aeration rate of 0.50 vvm, with a light intensity of 250 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ and 24:0 h light/dark cycle. Culture temperatures of 15, 10 and 5 °C were applied in the third phase, where temperature stress induced the production of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid synthesis in N. oceanica. The production of α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid increased by 52% (w/w), 96% (w/w), and 77% (w/w), respectively, at 5 °C in the third phase.
The Effect of Air Injection Rate and Medium Nitrogen Concentration on Cell Biomass and Lipid Content of Scenedesmus Quadricauda in Flat Plate Photobioreactor
2016, Procedia Engineering
In the present study, the microalgal strain Scenedesmus quadricauda was studied in different air injection rates and different medium nitrogen concentrations of Lefebvre-czarda medium by using a flat plate photobioreactor. The result showed that air injection enhanced the biomass concentration, however, high air injection rate did not cause the increasing of growth and biomass concentration. The best air injection rate for saving injection energy among 5 to 65 L/min was 15 L/min. Besides, lipid content was not affected by different air injection rates. Three nitrogen concentrations which are standard, double and triple nitrogen concentrations of Lefebvre-czarda medium were tested. The result of nitrogen effect indicated that the lipid content was enhanced by low medium nitrogen concentration. The highest biomass concentration and lipid content were obtained in standard medium nitrogen concentration of Lefebvre-czarda medium.
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% (with factor 6.25) showing that this solvent extraction increases the protein content in the residue and is quite selective towards lipids. Protein content in Chlorella sp. [43] is relatively high compared to other algal species, such as Chaetoceros muelleri [20] or Thalassiosira pseudonana [20,45,46] (see Table 3). It should, however, be pointed out here, that saponification process applies hexane and sulphuric acid as reagents, which are not suitable for food applications.
Algae as a raw material are highly important, since algae have high growth rates and are rich in lipids, proteins, and carotenoids. Direct saponification of alga with an ethanolic solution of KOH or NaOH followed by extraction was investigated and the composition of different fractions was studied by several physico-chemical methods, such as gas- and liquid chromatography, Fourier transform infrared analysis, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, organic elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. Direct saponification of Chlorella sp. was demonstrated with detailed analysis of different products, such as lipids, proteins, carotenoids and carbohydrates. The yield of lipids and the unsaponifiable fraction was independent on the type and concentration of alkali in direct saponification of green alga Chlorella sp. Proteins were mainly in the solid residue remaining after saponification. Protein content in the solid residue decreased with increasing alkali concentration and the solid residue. The main fatty acids were oleic and linoleic acids. Lutein and β-carotene were the main carotenoids in Chlorella sp. Sugars and large part of proteins remained in the polar fraction after separation of lipid and carotenoids.
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Citation Excerpt :
A few studies have addressed the relationship between Q/V ratio and growth. Fabregas et al. [27] tested Dunaliella tertiolecta with Q/V ratios up to 6.51 min−1 and found increase of growth rate with increased airflow rate, with no significant inhibition at the higher flow rates; however, they did not find an optimum ratio based on growth alone. Hulatt & Thomas [10] had tested D. tertiolecta and Chlorella vulgaris at Q/V ratios of 0.034, 0.069, and 0.172 min−1, and found growth rates of 0.07 and 0.10 g L−1 d−1, for the two species respectively, at Q/V of 0.172 min−1.
This study evaluated growth and lipid productivity of Nannochloropsis salina in bubble columns sparged with ambient air. Experiments were conducted in batch mode at gas-to-culture volume ratios of 0.08–0.28 min⁻¹, under constant light input. The net energy from the process, considering the energy equivalence of the lipid produced and the energy input for sparging, is proposed as the basis to optimize the sparging rate. Based on this energetic measure, the optimal gas-to-culture volume was found to be 0.18 min⁻¹. Under this optimal condition, the specific growth rate was 0.224 d⁻¹; the gravimetric lipid content was 59.7%; and the carbon dioxide utilization efficiency was 57%. Considering the temporal profiles of biomass growth and pH, it is concluded that sparging with ambient air could limit biomass growth due to limited carbon availability, supporting the case for sparging with carbon dioxide-enriched air.
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^‡: Present address: Departamento Biología celular y molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la Coruña, Campus da Zapateira, E-1507, La Coruña, Spain.

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Bioresource Technology

Abstract

References (24)

Development of Western Biotechnology's algal β-carotene plant

Biores. Technol.

Utilization of inorganic carbon by marine microalgae

J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol.

Marine microalgae as a potential source of minerals in fish diets

Aquaculture

The effect of pH in intensive microalgal cultures. I. Biomass regulation

J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol.

The influence of light/dark cycles in mixed algal cultures on their productivity

Biores. Technol.

Yields in biomass and chemical constituents for four commercially important marine microalgae with different culture media

Aquacult. Engng.

Carbonic anhydrase located on cell surface increases the affinity for organic carbon in photosynthesis of Dunaliella tertiolecta

FEBS Letters

Kinetic studies on the active species of inorganic carbon absorbed by the cells of Dunaliella tertiolecta

Plant Cell Physiol.

On the mechanism of osmorregulation in Dunaliella

Glycerol, β-carotene and dry algal meal production by commercial cultivation of Dunaliella

Glycerol production by Dunaliella

Experientia

The molecular and biochemical analyses of CO₂-concentrating mechanisms in cyano-bacteria and microalgae

Plant Cell Environ.

Cited by (15)

Efficient methods of seedling culture and cultivation of the economic macroalga Scytosiphon lomentaria (Phaeophyta): A systematic review

Enhancement of biomass, lipids, and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) production in Nannochloropsis oceanica with a combination of single wavelength light emitting diodes (LEDs) and low temperature in a three-phase culture system

The Effect of Air Injection Rate and Medium Nitrogen Concentration on Cell Biomass and Lipid Content of Scenedesmus Quadricauda in Flat Plate Photobioreactor

Algal products beyond lipids: Comprehensive characterization of different products in direct saponification of green alga Chlorella sp.

Energetic optimization of algal lipid production in bubble columns: Part 1: Evaluation of gas sparging

Characterization of factors influencing the growth of Anabaena variabilis in a bubble column reactor

Improvement of growth rate and cell productivity by aeration rate in cultures of the marine microalga Dunaliella tertiolecta

Abstract

Biores. Technol.

J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol.

Aquaculture

J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol.

Biores. Technol.

Aquacult. Engng.

Carbonic anhydrase located on cell surface increases the affinity for organic carbon in photosynthesis of Dunaliella tertiolecta

FEBS Letters

Kinetic studies on the active species of inorganic carbon absorbed by the cells of Dunaliella tertiolecta

Plant Cell Physiol.

On the mechanism of osmorregulation in Dunaliella

Glycerol, β-carotene and dry algal meal production by commercial cultivation of Dunaliella

Glycerol production by Dunaliella

Experientia

The molecular and biochemical analyses of CO2-concentrating mechanisms in cyano-bacteria and microalgae

Plant Cell Environ.

The molecular and biochemical analyses of CO₂-concentrating mechanisms in cyano-bacteria and microalgae