Production of Scenedesmus almeriensis Using Pilot-Scale Raceway Reactors Located inside a Greenhouse

Abstract

The microalga S. almeriensis was produced in spring and summer using 80 m2 raceway reactors located inside a greenhouse in Almería, Spain. This microalga was selected because it is a fast-growing and robust strain with potential applications in the production of functional foods and feeds or as a high-value agricultural biostimulant. Overall, the biomass productivity obtained in summer was 24.9 ± 0.9 g·m−2·day−1. This value was higher than that obtained in spring, with an average value of 21.4 ± 1.3 g·m−2·day−1 (p < 0.05). The Fv/Fm value of the cultures at the stationary phase was comparable and around 0.6, which is the optimum of this strain. No major differences in the macromolecular composition of the biomass were observed between seasons, with an average protein, lipid, ash, and carbohydrate content of 37.9, 4.6, 10.8, and 46.7%, respectively. The data reported herein were used to validate a previously described model. The differences between the experimental and the predicted biomass productivities were below 5% in spring and 8% in summer, although a larger dataset is needed to validate the model. Overall, results supported the robustness of the selected strain and its utilisation in different industrial sectors.

Long-Term Assessment of the Nutrient Recovery Capacity and Biomass Productivity of Scenedesmus Almeriensis in Raceway Reactors Using Unprocessed Urban Wastewater

“…The productivity was significantly affected by the environmental conditions and varied depending on the mean irradiance and temperature of the culture. Results were comparable to those reported by Morillas-España et al, who obtained biomass productivity values of 24 g•m -2 •day -1 day when producing the microalga S. almeriensis in raceway reactors of the same volume 21 . Another study reported that Eustance et alt.…”

Microalgae-Based Biorefineries: Challenges and Future Trends to Produce Carbohydrate Enriched Biomass, High-Added Value Products and Bioactive Compounds

“…It is important to stress that assessment of the effect of environmental conditions on macromolecular composition is better understood in outdoor cultures. Morillas-España et al [ 99 ] have shown that the macromolecular composition of Scenedesmus almeriensis cultivated in outdoors raceways under spring and summer using commercial fertilizers as a source of nutrients, showed no major differences with an average protein, lipid, ash, and carbohydrate content of 37.9, 4.6, 10.8, and 46.7%, respectively.…”

Fibrinolytic Enzyme from Green Microalgae: A New Potential Drug for Thrombolytic Therapy?

“…The production of microalgae has tripled in the last 5 years [13]. The interest in world production is due to some characteristics such as high photosynthetic efficiency, fast growth rate, resistance to various contaminants, and the capacity to grow on non-arable lands and be cultured using different growth conditions (autotrophic, heterotrophic, and mixotrophic growth modes) [14,15]. Specifically, previous studies have shown that mixotrophic conditions using different organic carbon substrates improve enzyme production and the T. obliquus biomass yields [16,17].…”