Carbohydrates Production and Bio-flocculation Characteristics in Cultures of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis: Improvements Through Phosphorus Limitation Process

• DOI: 10.1007/s12155-012-9205-3
• Publication Date: 2012-05-11T15:55:57Z
• Authors: Giorgos Markou; Iordanis Chatzipa...; Dimitris Georgakakis
• Keywords: Arthrospira; Spirulina (dietary supplement); Settling

Carbohydrates are a desirable biomass compound for the generation of several biofuels. Phosphorus nutrient limitation causes a significant increase in the carbohydrate content of the cyanobacterium Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis. Carbohydrates accumulated up to a content of 63.09 ± 3.43 % (±SD) in both batch and semi-continuous cultures. In order the production of carbohydrate-rich biomass through nutrient limitation to be maximized, it is suggested that the limited nutrients have to be supplied in amounts that they on one hand can support the biomass production while on the other hand they alter the composition of the biomass. In this study, phosphorus of 1.82 ± 0.16 mg g−1 of dry biomass was the optimized amount for the maximization of carbohydrates production by A. platensis. Regarding the need to decrease the application amounts of nutrients for biomass production, this study demonstrates that the phosphorus supply could be decreased an order of magnitude with no significant decrease in biomass production. In addition, it was observed that biomass rich in carbohydrates bio-flocculates, during settling without the addition of any flocculation agent or any other intervention. The bio-flocculation efficiency appears to be related with the carbohydrate content of the biomass. In maximum carbohydrate content (60 %), the biomass bio-flocculated at 68.49 ± 7.73 % the first 15 min and reached 80.25 ± 5.58 % 60 min after settling. The produced carbohydrates might be used as feedstock for biofuel generation, while the bio-flocculation and the overall settling characteristics of the carbohydrate-rich biomass could make its harvesting process much easier.