Reuse of Arthrospira platensis culture medium treated by microfiltration process using differents temperatures and pH values

• Grant number: 14/18066-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2015
• End date: December 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Technology
• Principal Investigator: João Carlos Monteiro de Carvalho
• Grantee: Juliana Tonini
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The cultivation of cyanobacteria of the genus Arthrospira has been widely produced industrially due to its biomass properties and various applications in many sectors, that range from food supplements for humans and animals, until their use in bioremediation processes. The microalgal biomass production market generates approximately U.S. $ 12.5 billion per year. To maintain this industrial demand, the production uses high volumes of water resources and salts in cultivation medium to produce 5000 t/year microalgal biomass powder. This study presents a technology that enables reuse of culture medium in new crops of photosynthetic micro-organisms, separation technology through membranes, which has been employed in water treatment since the 1930s, and has demonstrated to be a technique that provides water of good quality, compact installation and easy automation. The employment of this technology in the treatment of the medium aiming at its reuse could contribute to the development of an economically profitable production as also more sustainable.