Enhancement of Protein and Pigment Content in Two Chlorella Species Cultivated on Industrial Process Water

Hamed Safafar,Per Møller,Anita Ljubic,Patrick Uldall Nørregaard,Susan Løvstad Holdt,Charlotte Jacobsen

doi:10.3390/jmse4040084

Hamed Safafar, Per Møller + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse4040084

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Abstract

Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Chlorella vulgaris were cultivated in pre-gasified industrial process water with high concentration of ammonia representing effluent from a local biogas plant. The study aimed to investigate the effects of growth media and cultivation duration on the nutritional composition of biomass. Variations in proteins, lipid, fatty acid composition, amino acids, tocopherols, and pigments were studied. Both species grew well in industrial process water. The contents of proteins were affected significantly by the growth media and cultivation duration. Microalga Chlorella pyrenoidosa produced the highest concentrations of protein (65.2% ± 1.30% DW) while Chlorella vulgaris accumulated extremely high concentrations of lutein and chlorophylls (7.14 ± 0.66 mg/g DW and 32.4 ± 1.77 mg/g DW, respectively). Cultivation of Chlorella species in industrial process water is an environmentally friendly, sustainable bioremediation method with added value biomass production and resource valorization, since the resulting biomass also presented a good source of proteins, amino acids, and carotenoids for potential use in aquaculture feed industry.

Highlights

Algae are a diverse group of autotrophic organisms that have created immense interest due to their specific growth requirements such as efficient use of light energy, their ability to grow rapidly, fix atmospheric CO2, and produce more biomass per acre than land plants [1]
Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Chlorella vulgaris were cultivated in pre-gasified industrial process water with high concentration of ammonia representing effluent from a local biogas plant
Microalga Chlorella pyrenoidosa produced the highest concentrations of protein (65.2% ± 1.30% dry weight (DW)) while Chlorella vulgaris accumulated extremely high concentrations of lutein and chlorophylls (7.14 ± 0.66 mg/g DW and 32.4 ± 1.77 mg/g DW, respectively)

Summary

Introduction

Algae are a diverse group of autotrophic organisms that have created immense interest due to their specific growth requirements such as efficient use of light energy, their ability to grow rapidly, fix atmospheric CO2, and produce more biomass per acre than land plants [1]. Microalgae are known as a potentially sustainable source of feedstock for fuel, food, chemicals, feed and even for the pharmaceutical industry [2,3]. Chemical composition of algal biomass is well studied and contains proteins, carbohydrates, lipid, pigments, vitamins, antioxidants, and trace elements. Proteins can be the most dominant nutritious compounds in some cyanobacteria such as Arthrospira sp., and microalgae such as Chlorella sp. The amino acid composition in most microalgae is more or less the same as terrestrial plants and animal food products. As well as proper amino acid composition, makes microalgal biomass a promising alternative ingredient in the formulation of aquaculture feed [5,6]. As an alternative source of amino acids and proteins even for human nutrition [7] There has been interest from both a research and economic point of view for microalgae such as Chlorella sp. as an alternative source of amino acids and proteins even for human nutrition [7]

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