Influence of the feeding time and light intensity on the S. platensis cultivation with ammoniun chloride as nitrogen source

Author(s)

Raquel Pedrosa Bezerra

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ)
• Defense date: 2006-10-27

Examining board members

João Carlos Monteiro de Carvalho; Eliane Dalva Godoy Danesi; Sunao Sato

• Advisor: Joao Carlos Monteiro de Carvalho

Abstract

Cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis represents a protein and fatty acid source that becomes it important as food supplement. The nitrogen source is a nutrient that influences in its metabolism. In this work, it was observed the S. platensis growth and biomass composition using ammonium chloride as nitrogen source in fed-batch process. Using factorial experimental design, it was carried out the study of the ammonium chloride feeding time and light intensity in the S. platensis culture. The results were evaluated by response surface methodology (RSM). Lower protein and lipids contents were found in cell cultures cultivated at higher light intensity. The predictive optimal condition, obtained by statistic analysis, for maximum cellular concentration (Xm) and nitrogen-cell conversion factor (YX/N) was obtained in the culture grown at 13 klux and feeding time of 17.2 days. In these conditions, Xm of 1771 ± 2.3 mg/L and YX/N of 5.7 ± 0.17 mg/mg were obtained. These values are 3.4 % and 4.0 % lower than that ones predicted by mathematical model, respectively. Higher productivities were observed in the culture grown at higher intensity light and lower feeding time. (AU)