Effect of UV-C irradiation on polyhydroxybutyrate and c-phycocyanin production from Spirulina platensis growing on palm oil mill effluent

Abstract

The production of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from Spirulina platensis is interesting since it could accumulate PHB by employing sunlight and organic carbon as the source of energy, compared to bacteria. To make it more feasible, the growth could be done on wastewater to reduce commercial fertilizer, while in other hand, C-phycocyanin (CPC) from the biomass can be exploited by modifying the environmental factors. This research was proposed to utilize palm oil mill effluent (POME) as medium growth and investigate the irradiation time of UV-C to produce PHB and CPC. Research was done in a stepwise two experiments, which explore POME fractions (0-70%) and UV-C irradiation time (0-30 min). Results showed that 3 min irradiation time and 50% POME could stimulate S. platensis to produce 22 mg/L and 47 mg/L, PHB and CPC production, respectively.