Abstract:A base on the Moon surface or a mission to Mars are potential destinations for human spaceflight, according to current space agencies’ plans. These scenarios pose several new challenges, since the environmental and operational conditions of the mission will strongly differ than those on the International Space Station (ISS). One critical parameter will be the increased mission duration and further distance from Earth, requiring a Life Support System (LSS) as independent as possible from Earth’s resources. Curr… Show more
“…This idea was expressed by K. Tsiolkovsky, who suggested that it is possible to use microalgae as a metabolic counterweight to humans during a long space flight or extraterrestrial settlements. Experiments have shown that in an ecosystem with closed gas and water loops, chlorella can provide a person with oxygen, absorbing carbon dioxide, and utilize the products of their vital functions for an almost unlimited time (the experiments lasted up to a year), but at the same time, a person cannot completely absorb the entire synthesized biomass of chlorella [ 210 ]. The advantages of using microalgae include the absence in the experiment of noticeable changes in the physiological and population state and side effects in the coexistence of humans and algae in closed systems, as well as high productivity (for chlorella, 25–30 L of oxygen from 1 L of suspension per day) and high the degree of reliability and stability of the algal link in providing adequate nutrition for the crew.…”
The beneficial properties of algae make them perfect functional ingredients for food products. Algae have a high energy value and are a source of biologically active substances, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and macro- and microelements. They are also rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, proteins, mycosporine-like amino acids, polysaccharides, polyphenols, carotenoids, sterols, steroids, lectins, halogenated compounds, polyketides, alkaloids, and carrageenans. Different extraction parameters are used depending on the purpose and the substances to be isolated. In this study, the following parameters were used: hydromodule 1:10 and an extraction duration of 1–2 h at the extraction temperature of 25–40 °C. A 30–50% solution of ethanol in water was used as an extractant. Algae extracts can be considered as potential natural sources of biologically active compounds with antimicrobial activity and antiviral properties. The content of crude protein, crude fat, and carbohydrates in U. Prolifera, C. racemosa var. peltata (Chlorophyta), S. oligocystum and S. fusiforme (SF-1) was studied. It was found that C. muelleri (Bacillariophyta), I. galbana (Haptophyta), and T. weissflogii (Bacillariophyta) contain about 1.9 times more omega-3 than omega-6 fatty acids. N. gaditana (Ochrophyta), D. salina (Chlorophyta), P. tricornutum (Bacillaryophyta) and I. galbana (Haptophyta) extracts showed inhibitory activity of varying intensities against E. coli or P. aeruginosa. In addition, algae and algae-derived compounds have been proposed to offer attractive possibilities in the food industry, especially in the meat sector, to evolve functional foods with myriad functionalities. Algae can increase the biological activity of food products, while the further study of the structure of compounds found in algae can broaden their future application possibilities.
“…This idea was expressed by K. Tsiolkovsky, who suggested that it is possible to use microalgae as a metabolic counterweight to humans during a long space flight or extraterrestrial settlements. Experiments have shown that in an ecosystem with closed gas and water loops, chlorella can provide a person with oxygen, absorbing carbon dioxide, and utilize the products of their vital functions for an almost unlimited time (the experiments lasted up to a year), but at the same time, a person cannot completely absorb the entire synthesized biomass of chlorella [ 210 ]. The advantages of using microalgae include the absence in the experiment of noticeable changes in the physiological and population state and side effects in the coexistence of humans and algae in closed systems, as well as high productivity (for chlorella, 25–30 L of oxygen from 1 L of suspension per day) and high the degree of reliability and stability of the algal link in providing adequate nutrition for the crew.…”
The beneficial properties of algae make them perfect functional ingredients for food products. Algae have a high energy value and are a source of biologically active substances, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and macro- and microelements. They are also rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, proteins, mycosporine-like amino acids, polysaccharides, polyphenols, carotenoids, sterols, steroids, lectins, halogenated compounds, polyketides, alkaloids, and carrageenans. Different extraction parameters are used depending on the purpose and the substances to be isolated. In this study, the following parameters were used: hydromodule 1:10 and an extraction duration of 1–2 h at the extraction temperature of 25–40 °C. A 30–50% solution of ethanol in water was used as an extractant. Algae extracts can be considered as potential natural sources of biologically active compounds with antimicrobial activity and antiviral properties. The content of crude protein, crude fat, and carbohydrates in U. Prolifera, C. racemosa var. peltata (Chlorophyta), S. oligocystum and S. fusiforme (SF-1) was studied. It was found that C. muelleri (Bacillariophyta), I. galbana (Haptophyta), and T. weissflogii (Bacillariophyta) contain about 1.9 times more omega-3 than omega-6 fatty acids. N. gaditana (Ochrophyta), D. salina (Chlorophyta), P. tricornutum (Bacillaryophyta) and I. galbana (Haptophyta) extracts showed inhibitory activity of varying intensities against E. coli or P. aeruginosa. In addition, algae and algae-derived compounds have been proposed to offer attractive possibilities in the food industry, especially in the meat sector, to evolve functional foods with myriad functionalities. Algae can increase the biological activity of food products, while the further study of the structure of compounds found in algae can broaden their future application possibilities.
“…Oxygen is an important parameter for the growth of microalgae and can be used as an indicator of ongoing photosynthesis. Like other photosynthetic organisms, C. vulgaris and S. armatus release oxygen into the environment [10][11][12]. Measures of the metabolic processes in microalgae cells include both the ability to produce oxygen and the level of its production.…”
Since sources of clean water are limited, industrial wastewaters are available and utilization of biomass as a renewable energy source is increasing; therefore, wastewater could be used as a growth medium for the production of biomass. Such an approach is directly connected to the sustainable circular bioeconomy. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential application of industrial wastewater for cultivation of C. vulgaris and S. armatus. This study was carried out in order to: (i) assess the influence of wastewater on the activity of microalgae; (ii) assess batch and repeated fed-batch culture cultivation techniques; and (iii) assess cultivation of microalgae in suspension and immobilized on alginate beads. It was demonstrated that microalgae can be cultivated in wastewater contaminated with inorganic and organic chemical compounds in autotrophic conditions, batch culture or repeated fed-batch culture, and also in the form of suspension as well as being immobilized on alginate beads. The growth rate of microalgae in samples with initial algal culture concentrations of 100 g/L was as follow: 2.3 ± 0.01 d−1–3.8 ± 0.03 d−1 for C. vulgaris and 2.2 ± 0.02 d−1–4.0 ± 0.06 d−1 for S. armatus. In samples with initial algal culture concentrations of 50 g/L the growth rate of microalgae (μ) was as follow: 1.2 ± 0.01 d−1–2.2 ± 0.02 d−1 for C. vulgaris and 1.3 ± 0.02 d−1–2.4 ± 0.05 d−1 for S. armatus. Cultivation of microalgae in industrial wastewater has more advantages than cultivation carried out in clean water due to lower costs and protection of natural resources.
“…Hence, the most applicable approach will strongly depend on the mission scenario, in terms of size, extent and duration. Reversible carbon scrubbers 23 combined with microbial conversion may enable a sustainable and near-closed process for deep space travel and exploration missions or initial human settlements 24 , 25 . Fig.…”
Finding sustainable approaches to achieve independence from terrestrial resources is of pivotal importance for the future of space exploration. This is relevant not only to establish viable space exploration beyond low Earth–orbit, but also for ethical considerations associated with the generation of space waste and the preservation of extra-terrestrial environments. Here we propose and highlight a series of microbial biotechnologies uniquely suited to establish sustainable processes for in situ resource utilization and loop-closure. Microbial biotechnologies research and development for space sustainability will be translatable to Earth applications, tackling terrestrial environmental issues, thereby supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
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