Study of the cultivation of Spirulina platensis in whey cheese

• Grant number: 12/14571-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): November 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Vanildo Luiz Del Bianchi
• Grantee: Adilson de Jesus Chaves
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José do Rio Preto. São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This study is a continuation of the research project FAPESP Scientific Initiation (Process: 10/11066-4), which was found the possibility of Spirulina Platensis act in a heterotrophic and / or mixotrófica in media containing both whey and water wastewater from the dairy industry, observing both increasing biomass (equivalent to the traditional medium of Schlösser, commonly used) as the COD reduction of the system. The activity range was below substrates COD of 1000 mg L-1, resulting in a reduction of up to 86% the COD concentration of 1440 mg and obtaining an L-microbial mass. This study aims to increase the COD concentration of the system in order to evaluate the effect of substrate concentration, and initial inoculum of light intensity, both in cellular growth, as in the COD reduction. It also seeks, in the end, evaluate the possibility of using different bioreactors with the best results obtained during the study. To this end, the study will use wastewater and dairy whey in the COD concentrations of 1000, 2500 and 5000 mg L-1, inoculum concentrations of 10, 15 and 20% and light intensities of 3000, 6000 and 9000 lux. Analyzes will be made COD, pH, cell concentration, the day-to-day research and nitrogen, fatty acids and chlorophyll biomass grown in the best growing conditions obtained. The crops will be made initially in Erlenmeyer flasks of 200 mL, batch, for a period of 10 days for each race. At the end, will be tested the horizontal and vertical tubular bioreactor, "raceway" Erlenmeyer flasks gallons of greater volume of 20 liters. It is expected, with results to be obtained, a further step towards perfecting the system of treatment, and provide efficiencies similar to conventional aerobic treatment produces a material with potential use in the food, pharmaceutical and / or energy. The results will be presented at national scientific meetings and / or submitted to international and specialized journals. (AU)