Abstract
In this study, the effects of bicarbonate addition on growth and pigment contents of the unicellular microalga Nannochloropsis oculata, were evaluated. N. oculata represents an interesting source of biomolecules widely used for food supplements and nutraceuticals. The bicarbonate was supplemented to microalgae cultures at concentrations of 0, 6, 18, 30, 42 and 60 mM. The cultures supplemented with salt at highest concentrations (42 and 60 mM) showed a significant increase in algal growth, demonstrated by the optical density spread. The intracellular content of pigments such as chlorophyll a and total carotenoids reached the highest values in cells from cultures supplied with bicarbonate. In fact, concentrations of bicarbonate from 30 to 60 mM strongly improved, for a short period of only 72 h, the cellular levels of chlorophylls and carotenoids. These are interesting pigments with commercial applications. The utilization of bicarbonate could represent an interesting sustainable opportunity to improve microalgae cultivation for cellular growth and pigment contents.
Highlights
In recent years, a marked interest has grown around microalgae cultivation because of its multiple biotechnological applications
The intracellular content of pigments such as chlorophyll a and total carotenoids reached the highest values in cells from cultures supplied with bicarbonate
The effect of bicarbonate supply on Nannochloropsis oculata growth was monitored as changes in optical density (OD) over the time period (72 h)
Summary
A marked interest has grown around microalgae cultivation because of its multiple biotechnological applications. Microalgae, like plants, synthetize a lot of pigments whose composition and quantity can differ according to species and growing conditions. Their cultivation, when compared to plants, exhibits many advantages such as faster growth, higher biomass productivity and smaller land area for cultivation [9]. For this reason, microalgae are an interesting alternative platform for pigment production when compared to the traditional sources [9]. The main additional inorganic carbon (C) source for microalgae cultivation systems is the pure gaseous CO2. Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
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