Spirulina Optimization Using Cane Molasses as the Cost-Effective Alternative of Sodium Bicarbonate

• Published in: Biology bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vol. 49; no. Suppl 1; pp. S60 - S68
• Main Authors: Hafidh Al Mahrouqi, Dobretsov, Sergey, Avilés, Antonio, Díaz, Roberto T. Abdala
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01.02.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biochemistry; Biomass; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Carbon dioxide; Cell Biology; Chlorophyll; Culture media; Ecology; Fermentation; Life Sciences; Microbiology; Molasses; Nutrient solutions; Sodium bicarbonate; Spirulina; Zoology; fermentation; molasses; Spirulina; bicarbonates; protein
• ISSN: 1062-3590; 1608-3059
• DOI: 10.1134/S106235902213012X

Spirulina platensis is a cyanobacterium well known for its use as a feed and food supplement with recognized nutritional and cosmetic values. Spirulina was cultivated in media containing up to zero g L –1 sodium bicarbonate using sugar cane molasses (SCM) as a source of bicarbonate. The standard culture media used for Spirulina production is Zarrouk medium with a high content of bicarbonate, often supplied as NaHCO 3 . The present work proposes the use of SCM to supplement the Spirulina culture medium, with the intention that the CO 2 derived from bacterial fermentation—from the high concentration of sugars that it contains—will produce a sufficient amount of bicarbonate. The results obtained show there is no significant effect on the protein, chlorophyll a , and phycocyanin when using molasses but significant effect growth biomass. Biomass cultivation was successful by molasses, recommended that this industrial byproduct can be used as cost-effective for Spirulina cultivation.