Bicarbonate supplementation improves biomass productivity in Scenedesmus obliquus cultivation

Author(s)

Matsudo, M. C. ; Fukui-de-Sousa, T. ; Carvalho, J. C. M.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: RESEARCH JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY; v. 15, n. 7, p. 6-pg., 2020-07-01.

Abstract

Several studies have focused on the use of CO2 from alcoholic fermentation as carbon source in the cultivation of microalgae. However, considering the quantity of bioethanol produced in Brazil, for example, only part of this gas could be effectively used. In this sense, this inorganic carbon could be stored in the form of sodium bicarbonate and carbonate which can be used for supplementing microalgae growth medium. In the present study, the green microalga Scenedesmus obliquus was cultivated in Erlenmeyer flasks and in bench-scale tubular photobioreactor with the addition of sodium bicarbonate (0.2 similar to 6.4 g.L-1). The supplementation of this inorganic carbon source allowed increasing biomass concentration in Erlenmeyer flasks. In tubular photobioreactor with better conditions for microalgal growth, this supplementation did not allow the increase in maximum biomass concentration, but permitted the growth in shorter time, increasing biomass productivity. Lipid content was not influenced ranging from 26.3 to 30.2 % and the fatty acids showed a satisfactory polyunsaturated fatty acids/saturated fatty acids ratio (PUFA/SFA= 1.0 similar to 1.1) (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/51503-4 - Evaluation of strains of microalgae for the production of lipids for food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries
• Grantee: João Carlos Monteiro de Carvalho
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants