Application of bagasse extract in economic nannochloropsisoculata mass production

Abstract

Algae were considered as an alternative source of food and a lot of biologically active ingredient. Beside, algae nutrition seems to be the most limiting factor concerning proper growth and economy cost. The main figure in this respect is carbon nutrition. The aim of the current work was to use bagasse for carbon nutrition of Nannochloropsis alga beside the selection of the proper concentration. Growth was performed using F2 growth medium for inoculum preparation and sub-culturing, while artificial growth medium was made and used to be mass culture of alga. The investigated parameters were dry weight, total chlorophyll and carotenoids. Results showed that a high nutritional composition of bagasse extract as an alternative source of organic carbon (89.9% of total cell carbon)and other nutrients N, P and K.(0.035 ppm, 7.0 ppm and 51 ppm, respectively) especially when integrated with original growth medium (F2) and bagasse extract led to extra growth enhancement. Low and medium concentrations of bagasse in cultures free growth medium led to decrease the chlorophyll content and the maximum chlorophyll content (0.54g.l-1). It was obtained by cultures grown with full F2 growth medium enriched by 10% of bagasse extract. By such treatment, carotene possessed the lowest (0.14g.l-1) outdoor zigzag shape photobioreactor led to the highest volumetric algal biomass production compare to indoor systems.Unit specification markedly affected growth characteristics and yield both of Nannochloropsisoculata in dry weight and oil content. Chemical composition revealed the relatively high content of carbohydrates (26.6%) and oils (11.9%) on the expense of protein content (32.8%) and the maximum figure of ash content (2%) goes back to sodium ions.