Spirulina: growth in continuous and batch bioreactors and response to stress conditions

Anton Mikryukov,Vasili Travkin,Nadezda Tarasova,Inna Solyanikova,Diana Martseva,Vitaly Sablin

doi:10.1088/1755-1315/705/1/012001

Abstract

Spirulina platensis is a cyanobacterium with high biotechnological potential. Optimization of the cultivation conditions of spirulina takes place constantly, to increase the yield of this valuable crop. An important economic indicator of the process is an increase in the yield of biomass and a decrease in the cost of its production. For example, avoiding the need to cultivate spirulina at elevated temperatures with at least equal biomass yield. The purpose of this work was to develop and compare methods for cultivating Spirulina platensis in two bioreactors, continuous and batch ones, and to assess the resistance of spirulina cells to environmental stress caused by the presence of household chemicals. It was shown that, at room temperature, the wet biomass yield was higher in the bioreactor than with batch cultivation in flasks. However, a decrease in temperature leads to a decrease in the number of colony forming units. The presence of compounds such as phosphates and phosphonates from household chemicals in the cultivation environment negatively affects the survival of Spirulina cells, which reflects the general trend of a decrease in the number of microorganisms as a result of environmental pollution with surfactants.

Highlights

Different species of cyanobacteria inhabit almost all environments — from soil to fresh and sea waters, as well as such extreme habitats as hot springs, soda and salt lakes, etc. [1]
Spirulina platensis is a cyanobacterium with high biotechnological potential
The purpose of this work was to develop and compare methods for cultivating Spirulina platensis in two bioreactors, continuous and batch ones, and to assess the resistance of spirulina cells to environmental stress caused by the presence of household chemicals

Summary

Introduction

Different species of cyanobacteria (formerly blue-green algae) inhabit almost all environments — from soil to fresh and sea waters, as well as such extreme habitats as hot springs, soda and salt lakes, etc. [1]. The production of microalgae is growing at an intensive rate throughout the world, among them the microalgae Chlorella spp. and the cyanobacterium Spirulina spp. are most widely used. Spirulina is used as feed for animals and poultry, in the food and pharmaceutical industries to obtain algaline flour (ecobroad), polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3, omega-6) physiologically necessary for humans, biologically active substances (astaxanthin, phycocyanin), new generation antibiotics. According the Hunger Project, in November 2017, out of 7.6 billion of the population in the world, 815 million are in a state of chronic hunger. Almost three quarters of the population is directly dependent on agriculture and similar activities [2]. It is noted that an increase in the productivity of agricultural products inevitably entails an increased load on natural resources and the environment [3]

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