Study of morphological features and growth parameters of psychrophilic microalgae and cyanobacteria

Abstract

Recently, a question of producing a complex of biologically active substances from microalgae has aroused widespread interest. It is known that microalgae are able to produce a significant amount of exopolysaccharides. The aim of this work was to study morphological features and growth parameters of psychrophilic microalgae and cyanobacteria for the subsequent production of exopolysaccharides. The morphology of microalgae was observed using a binocular microscope. Growth parameters were studied by spectrophotometry; parameters of the culture medium were determined using a pH-meter. Exponential dependency graphs that show the dynamics and expected growth rate of microalgae were built. A rate of growth and polysaccharide biosynthesis in microalgae was determined upon changing the light intensity from 50 to130 mmol/m2/s. The highest level of cell counts in the logarithmic growth phase was up to 0.8 for Scenedesmus obtusiusculus Chod IPPAS S-329. A level of cells also varied in the deceleration phase from 0.25 for Ankistrodesmus acicularis Korsch IPPAS А-218 to 1.8 for Scenedesmus obtusiusculus Chod IPPAS S-329. Microalgae showed a high level of biomass accumulation under alkalophylic conditions. Eukaryotic algae actively photosynthesized at a pH of more than 8.0 and a temperature of 30 °C.The maximum activity at the level of pH 3.0/3.2 in the lag phase was 100% in C-1509 Nannochloris sp. Naumann. Microalga C-1509 Nannochloris sp. Naumann showed a high level of biomass accumulation under alkalophylic conditions; it photosynthesized at a pH of more than 8.0 and a temperature of 30 °C. It has been proved that neutrophiles can grow at pH lower than 3.0; this corresponds to the results of the experiments with the collection strains of microalgae with biomass productivity of 27.3%. At the alkaline pH values of 8.3-9.0, biomass productivity reduced from 46.0 to 37.2%. It is especially interesting that at the alkaline pH values of 7.5 and 8.0 biomass productivity of microalgae increased, which indicates the optimal growth conditions at this narrow pH range. An ability of microalgae to produce exopolysaccharides opens prospects of their use for practical purposes.