A one-stage cultivation process for lipid- and carbohydrate-rich biomass of Scenedesmus obtusiusculus based on artificial and natural water sources. (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schulze, Christian; Reinhardt, Jakob; Wurster, Martina; Ortiz-Tena, José Guillermo; Sieber, Volker; Mundt, Sabine
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 218(2016)
• Page Start: 498
• Page End: 504
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: Scenedesmus obtusiusculus -- Nitrate starvation -- Lipids -- Carbohydrates -- Medium optimization; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.06.109
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Highlights: Medium nitrate, phosphate and iron were optimized for high-value algal biomass. Low-cost medium based on artificial sea water or natural water sources was designed. Lipid- and carbohydrate-rich algal biomass was obtained in a one stage cultivation process. Abstract: A one-stage cultivation process of the microalgae Scenedesmus obtusiusculus with medium based on natural water sources was developed to enhance lipids and carbohydrates. A medium based on artificial sea water, Baltic Sea water and river water with optimized nutrient concentrations compared to the standard BG-11 for nitrate (−75%), phosphate and iron (−90%) was used for cultivation. Although nitrate exhaustion over cultivation resulted in nitrate limitation, growth of the microalgae was not reduced. The lipid content increased from 6.0% to 19.9%, an increase in oleic and stearic acid was observed. The unsaponifiable matter of the lipid fraction was reduced from 19.5% to 11.4%. The carbohydrate yield rose from 45% to 50% and the protein content decreased from 32.4% to 15.9%. Using natural water sources with optimized nutrient concentrations could open the opportunity to modulate biomass composition and to reduce the cultivation costs.