Industrial production of Phaeodactylum tricornutum for CO2 mitigation: biomass productivity and photosynthetic efficiency using photobioreactors of different volumes

Silva³

et al. 2020

Applied Sciences

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Bioprospection of novel autochthonous strains is key to the successful industrial-scale production of microalgal biomass. A novel Chlorococcum strain was recently isolated from a pond inside the industrial production facility of Allmicroalgae (Leiria, Portugal). Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene sequences suggests that this isolate is a novel, free-living Oophila amblystomatis strain. However, as our phylogenetic data strongly suggests that the aforementioned taxon belongs to the genus Chlorococcum, it is here proposed to rename this species as Chlorococcum amblystomatis. In order to characterize the biotechnological potential of this novel isolate, growth performance and biochemical composition were evaluated from the pilot (2.5-m3) to industrial (10-m3) scale. The highest maximum areal productivity (36.56 g·m−2·day−1) was reached in a 10-m3 tubular photobioreactor (PBR), as compared to that obtained in a 2.5-m3 PBR (26.75 g·m−2·day−1). Chlorococcum amblystomatis displayed high protein content (48%–56% dry weight (DW)) and moderate levels of total lipids (18%–31% DW), carbohydrates (6%–18% DW) and ashes (9%–16% DW). Furthermore, the lipid profile was dominated by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The highest pigment contents were obtained in the 2.5-m3 PBR, where total chlorophylls accounted for 40.24 mg·g−1 DW, followed by lutein with 5.37 mg·g−1 DW. Overall, this free-living Chlorococcum amblystomatis strain shows great potential for nutritional applications, coupling a promising growth performance with a high protein content as well as relevant amounts of PUFAs, chlorophyll, and carotenoids.

Section: Reactor Volumetric Productivitysupporting

confidence: 77%

“…This trend was previously reported for the same PBRs geometry upon the cultivation of Tetraselmis sp. (Chlorophyta) CTP4 [12] and Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Bacillariophyta) [35].…”

Section: Reactor Volumetric Productivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolation, Identification and Biotechnological Applications of a Novel, Robust, Free-living Chlorococcum (Oophila) amblystomatis Strain Isolated from a Local Pond

Correia

Silva³

et al. 2020

Applied Sciences

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“…The photosynthetic efficiency (PE) was determined by equation 4, as previously described by Quelhas et al (2019) [41].…”

Section: Growth Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…CHN analysis was performed using a Vario el III (Vario EL, Elementar Analyser system, Germany), according to Quelhas et al [41]. Total proteins were calculated by multiplying the nitrogen content by the standard conversion factor 6.25 [46] after CHN analysis.…”

Section: Proximate Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nannochloropsis oceanica Cultivation in Pilot-Scale Raceway Ponds—From Design to Cultivation

Cunha

Costa³

et al. 2020

Applied Sciences

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Raceways ponds are the microalgal production systems most commonly used at industrial scale. In this work, two different raceway configurations were tested under the same processing conditions to compare their performance on the production of Nannochloropsis oceanica. Biomass productivity, biochemical composition of the produced biomass, and power requirements to operate those reactors were evaluated. Water depths of 0.20 and 0.13 m, and culture circulation velocities of 0.30 and 0.15 m s−1 were tested. A standard configuration, which had a full channel width paddlewheel, proved to be the most energy efficient, consuming less than half of the energy required by a modified configuration (had a half channel width paddlewheel). The later showed to have slightly higher productivity, not enough to offset the large difference in energetic consumption. Higher flow velocity (0.30 m s−1) led to a 1.7 g m−2 d−1 improvement of biomass productivity of the system, but it increased the energy consumption twice as compared to the 0.15 m s−1 flow velocity. The latter velocity showed to be the most productive in lipids. A water depth of 0.20 m was the most suitable option tested to cultivate microalgae, since it allowed a 54% energy saving. Therefore, a standard raceway pond using a flow velocity of 0.3 m s−1 with a 0.20 m water depth was the most efficient system for microalgal cultivation. Conversely, a flow velocity of 0.15 m s−1 was the most suitable to produce lipids.

“…Industrial scale cultivation of P. tricornutum has been recently reported in literature [8,[11][12][13]. This microalga can produce high concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and pigments, such as fucoxanthin [5,12,14].…”

Section: Industrial Production Of Phaeodactylum Tricornutummentioning

confidence: 99%

Fucoxanthin production from Tisochrysis lutea and Phaeodactylum tricornutum at industrial scale

Sá

Maia

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Fucoxanthin is a xanthophyll carotenoid with high market value. Currently, seaweeds are the primary feedstock for fucoxanthin industrial production. However, marine microalgae reach 5 to 10 times higher concentrations (2.24 to 26.6 mg g-1 DW), and are considered a promising source. In this work, two marine microalgae were produced at industrial scale to evaluate biomass and fucoxanthin production; Phaeodactylum tricornutum for autumn/winter and Tisochrysis lutea for spring/summer. Both strains were grown in 15 m3 tubular flow-through photobioreactors, for 170 consecutive days, in semi-continuous cultivation regime. The average volumetric biomass productivities of P. tricornutum and T. lutea were 0.11 and 0.09 g DW L-1 day-1. P. tricornutum reached higher maximum biomass concentration (2.87 g DW L-1) than T. lutea (1.47 g DW L-1). This is the first work in literature reporting a long-term industrial production of T. lutea. P. tricornutum fucoxanthin content ranged between 0.2 and 0.7 % DW, while T. lutea between 0.2 and 0.6 % DW. The fucoxanthin content was correlated with the irradiation (MJ m-2) and the biomass concentration in the photobioreactor (g L-1). Overall, this work shows possible scenarios for fucoxanthin production from microalgae, increasing the window to supply the industry with steady production throughout the year.