Selecting for a high lipid accumulating microalgae culture by dual growth limitation in a continuous bioreactor

Journal Article (2024)
Author(s)

G. Policastro (TU Delft - BT/Environmental Biotechnology, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II)

S Ebrahimi (TU Delft - BT/Environmental Biotechnology, Sahand University of Technology)

D. G. Weissbrodt (Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), TU Delft - BT/Environmental Biotechnology)

Massimiliano Fabbricino (Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II)

Mark M.C. van Loosdrecht (TU Delft - BT/Environmental Biotechnology)

Research Group
BT/Environmental Biotechnology
Copyright
© 2024 G. Policastro, S. Ebrahimi, D.G. Weissbrodt, Massimiliano Fabbricino, Mark C.M. van Loosdrecht
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169213
More Info
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Publication Year
2024
Language
English
Copyright
© 2024 G. Policastro, S. Ebrahimi, D.G. Weissbrodt, Massimiliano Fabbricino, Mark C.M. van Loosdrecht
Research Group
BT/Environmental Biotechnology
Volume number
912
Reuse Rights

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Abstract

A dual-growth-limited continuous operated bioreactor (chemostat) was used to enhance lipid accumulation in an enrichment culture of microalgae. The light intensity and nitrogen concentration where both limiting factors resulting in high lipid accumulation in the mixed culture. Both conditions of light and nitrogen excess and deficiency were tested. Strategies to selectively enrich for a phototrophic lipid-storing community, based on the use of different nitrogen sources (ammonium vs. nitrate) and vitamin B supplementation in the growth medium, were evaluated. The dual limitation of both nitrogen and light enhanced the accumulation of storage compounds. Ammoniacal nitrogen was the preferred nitrogen source. Vitamin B supplementation led to a doubling of the lipid productivity. The availability of vitamins played a key role in selecting an efficient lipid-storing community, primarily consisting of Trebouxiophyceae (with an 82 % relative abundance among eukaryotic microorganisms). The obtained lipid volumetric productivity (387 mg L−1 d−1) was among the highest reported in literature for microalgae bioreactors. Lipid production by the microalgae enrichment surpassed the efficiencies reported for continuous microalgae pure cultures, highlighting the benefits of mixed-culture photo-biotechnologies for fuels and food ingredients in the circular economy.

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