A method to estimate the biomass of Spirulina platensis cultivated on a solid medium

Abstract

This paper presents a method to estimate the biomass of Spirulina cultivated on solid medium with sugarcane bagasse as a support, in view of the difficulty in determining biomass concentrations in bioprocesses, particularly those conducted in semi-solid or solid media. The genus Spirulina of the family Oscillatoriaceae comprises the group of multicellular filamentous cyanobacteria (blue-green microalgae). Spirulina is used as fish feed in aquaculture, as a food supplement, a source of vitamins, pigments, antioxidants and fatty acids. Therefore, its growth parameters are extremely important in studies of the development and optimization of bioprocesses. For studies of biomass growth, Spirulina platensis was cultured on solid medium using sugarcane bagasse as a support. The biomass thus produced was estimated by determining the protein content of the material grown during the process, based on the ratio of dry weight to protein content obtained in the surface growth experiments. The protein content of the biomass grown in Erlenmeyer flasks on surface medium was examined daily to check the influence of culture time on the protein content of the biomass. The biomass showed an average protein content of 42.2%. This methodology enabled the concentration of biomass adhering to the sugarcane bagasse to be estimated from the indirect measurement of the protein content associated with cell growth.

Prebiotic Potential and Value-Added Products Derived from Spirulina laxissima SV001—A Step towards Healthy Living

“…The protein content in the initial day was 36% and it was 72% and 39% on day 4 and 6, respectively (Figure 6) The protein content of the Spirulina increased as the biomass increased, and vice versa, suggesting that the biomass and the protein content are directly proportional to each other. These findings are consistent with previous reports [42]. The studies of McCarty, (2007) showed that, C-phycocyanin contains phycocyanobilin, and it is the major protein present in Spirulina and accounts for about 20% of algae's dry weight [43].…”

A review on Spirulina: alternative media for cultivation and nutritive value as an aquafeed

“…Sugar cane bagasse in a solid‐state medium mixed with Paoletti’s medium was a known combined medium even before the Zarrouk’s medium was formulated (Pelizer & Moraes 2014). The biomass was estimated from the protein content acquired from the surface growth of the microalgae after washing, filtration and drying.…”

Chemical analysis of the biomass of a native strain of Spirulina subsalsa Oersted ex Gomont 1892 (Spirulinaceae) cultivated in low-cost saline medium

“…The cultures were started with inocula previously acclimated to the mentioned environmental conditions. From the beginning of the test and every 48 h, samples were taken from each of the replicas to determine the pH and population growth according to the criteria of Pelizer and Oliveira (2014).…”