Abstract
In this study, a lichen-like structure was obtained through the production of a unique biomass, formed by algae cells of Scenedesmus obliquus adhering to the mycelium of filamentous fungal Mucor circinelloides. This structure was composed in two steps; in the first one, microalgal cells and spores were incubated separately, and in the second one, after 72 h of growth, isolated, mature mycelium was harvested and added to cell culture. For spores’ incubation, a culture medium containing only 2 g·L−1 of glucose and minerals was used. This culture medium, with low sugar content, provided a fungal biomass to the anchorage of microalgae cells. WC medium was used without and with sugarcane molasses supplementation for microalgae cells’ incubation. The lichen-type structure that was formed resulted in 99.7% efficiency in the recovery of microalgae cells and in up to 80% efficiency in the recovery of algae biomass in the lichen biomass composition. In addition, the resulting consortium attained a satisfactory lipid accumulation value (38.2 wt%) with a balanced fatty acid composition of 52.7% saturated plus monounsaturated fatty acids and 47.4% polyunsaturated fatty acids. Since fungal species are easy to recover, unlike microalgae, the lichen-like structure produced indicates an efficient low-cost bioremediation and harvesting alternative; in addition, it provides an oleaginous biomass for various industrial applications.
Highlights
In recent decades, the development of renewable fuels and other bioproducts of high value and commercial interest has been intrinsically linked to technologies involving the processing of microalgae [1]
The mycelium of the filamentous fungus was employed as a biosupport; sugarcane molasses were not supplemented in fungi culture medium, and there were no variations related to the fungi’s biochemical parameters and the sugarcane molasses
Lipid Characteristics: Fatty Acid Profile The results presented in Table 2 describe the fatty acid composition of microbial lipids from the microalgae S. obliquus, with and without supplementation of sugarcane molasses, and the lipid fatty acid profile of the consortium generated between the microalgae and the filamentous fungus
Summary
The development of renewable fuels and other bioproducts of high value and commercial interest has been intrinsically linked to technologies involving the processing of microalgae [1]. The use of microalgae can go far beyond their role as new providers of microbial lipids [5], which can turn into valuable methyl and ethyl esters for the biodiesel industry [6]; they can, function as a platform to capture CO2 and, indirectly, convert it into liquid fuel and other high-commercial-value bioproducts. The operational facilities for microalgae production still present some limitations, such as a very high demand of energy and the enforcement of requirements related to the use of toxic or recalcitrant chemicals in the harvesting steps [7]. The harvesting of tiny microbial cells from large cultures can account for 50% of the total biodiesel production cost [8]
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