Assessment of optimal growth conditions for specific carotenoids production by chlorella vulgaris

Abstract

Exploration of regional microalgae for carotenoids production under optimized cultural conditions is a sustainable economic and technical perspective. This study details comprehensive research on the influence of growth conditions on microalgal carotenoids. Carotenoid triggering factors were optimized to identify suitable growth conditions to produce specific carotenoids by Chlorella vulgaris. Media optimization and cultivation conditions were the factors considered and the results revealed the optimum growth conditions for carotenoid production by C. vulgaris was pH 8, 35°C temperature, 0.04 M salinity and 160 µE\m²\sec light intensity. Among the nutrient sources, potassium nitrate and potassium phosphate were suitable for nitrogen and phosphorous supplements. The results indicated optimizing the culture conditions and nutrient sources help to attain desirable carotenoid production by C. vulgaris. Specific carotenoids were extracted from the algal extract and were identified by highperformance liquid chromatography in which lutein (8.8%) was present as major carotenoid followed by astaxanthin (4.6%) and β-carotene (3.9%). This study revealed that that carotenoid production by C. vulgaris could be enhanced by manipulating culture conditions thereby attain desirable carotenoid production.