Influence of the N:P supply ratio on biomass productivity and time-resolved changes in elemental and bulk biochemical composition of Nannochloropsis sp.

Abstract

This work reports for the first time the detailed impacts of dual nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stress on growth dynamics and biochemical composition in the Eustigmatophyte Nannochloropsis sp. P-stress concurrent with N-stress had subtle effects on culture bulk biochemical composition, but negatively influenced biomass productivity. However, the N:P supply ratio can be raised to at least 32:1 without compromising productivity (yielding a maximum lipid content of 52% of dry weight and volumetric lipid concentration of 233mgL−1). The maximum biomass and lipid yields per unit of cell-P were 1.2kgDW (gP)−1 and 0.54kglipid (gP)−1. The P concentration of many common media is thus in surplus for optimal Nannochloropsis sp. biomass and lipid production, offering potential for significant savings in P usage and improving the sustainability of algal cultivation.