The potential of modified karst water as a substitute for microalgae culture media

Abstract

Karst water concocted culture medium which contains high concentration of complex minerals was presumed to support production of microalgae, such as Spirulina sp. (Arthrospira sp.), Chlorella sp., and Nannochloropsis sp. This study aims to evaluate the potential of enriched karst water medium to grow Spirulina sp., Chlorella sp., and Nannochloropsis sp. There were two batches of culture with different treatments of nutrient supplementary; the first was for Spirulina sp. and the second was for Chlorella sp. and Nannochloropsis sp. The results showed that all treatments were suitable for Spirulina sp. with different growth rates. The medium with 20:1 N/P ratio showed the best productivity for Chlorella sp., and 10:1 N/P ratio for Nannochloropsis sp. The pure karst water and all level as the nutrient modified karst water media showed a relatively similar growth rate of Spirulina sp. Furthermore, in the best medium for Chlorella sp. and Nannochloropsis sp. gave increasing density until the end of observation, instead of a death phase of commercial addition batch culture. Generally, modified karst water has the potential to be used as the microalgae growing medium.