Abstract
The optimization of the operation, under the climatic conditions of southern Spain, of an experimental plant for β-carotene production by Dunaliella has been pursued. The effects of mixing, culture depth, cell density and dilution cycles on β-carotene and biomass productivity were studied under a semicontinuous culture regime in open tanks outdoors. Using 3 m2-surface containers, the highest productivity values, for both β-carotene and biomass, were recorded with a flow rate of 0.55 m s−1; 10 cm depth; 0.7 − 0.9 × 106cell ml−1, population density; and dilution cycles of two days. An average annual productivity of 1.65 g (dry wt) m−2 d−1 was estimated for Dunaliella biomass, being that for β-carotene of about 0.1 g m−2 d−1. Under these optimized conditions, experiments have been carried out at the Cadiz Bay with 20 m2-surface tanks during a whole-year cycle. The results obtained have validated this location and the operating conditions established as being most appropriate for efficient mass production of β-carotene rich D. salina.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ben-Amotz A. 1995. New mode of Dunaliella biotechnology: twophase growth for ?-carotene production. J. appl. Phycol. 7: 65- 68.
-carotene. From science to commerce}. In: Seckbach J. (ed.), Enigmatic Microorganisms and Life in Extreme Environments. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands, pp. 401-410.
Ben-Amotz A. and Avron M. 1989. The biotechnology of mass culturing Dunaliella for products of commercial interest. In: Cresswell R.C., Rees T.A.V. and Shah N. (eds), Algal and Cyanobacterial Biotechnology. Longman Scientific and Technical Press, New York, pp. 90-114.
Borowiztka L.J. 1992. Commercial Dunaliella production: history of development. In: Villa T.G. and Abalde J. (eds), Profiles on Biotechnology. Servicio de publicaciones. Universidad Santiago de Compostela, pp. 233-245.
Borowitzka M.A. 1992. Comparing carotenogenesis in Dunaliella and Haematococcus: implications for commercial production strategies. In: Villa T.G. and Abalde J. (eds), Profiles on Biotechnology. Servicio de publicaciones. Universidad Santiago de Compostela, pp. 301-310.
Borowitzka M.A. 1999. Commercial production of microalgae: ponds, tanks, tubes and fermenters. J. Biotechnol. 70: 313-321.
Borowitzka M.A., Borowitzka L.J. and Kessly D. 1990. Effects of salinity increase on carotenoid accumulation in the green alga Dunaliella salina. J. appl. Phycol. 2: 111-119.
Cifuentes A.S., Gonzalez M., Conejeros M., Dellarossa V. and Parra O. 1992. Growth and carotenogenesis in eight strains of Dunaliella salina Teodoresco from Chile. J. appl. Phycol. 4: 111-118.
Chini Zittelli G., Tornasello V., Pinzani E. and Tredici M.R. 1996. Outdoor cultivation of Arthrospira platensis during autumn and winter in temperate climates. J. appl. Phycol. 8: 293-301.
Edge R., McGarvey D.J. and Truscott T.G. 1997. The carotenoids as antioxidants - a review. J. photochem. Photobiol. B: Biology 41: 189-200.
Ginzburg M. and Ginzburg B.Z. 1985. Studies of the comparative physiology of the genus Dunaliella (Chlorophyta, Volvocales)1. Response of growth to NaCl concentration. Br. phycol. J. 20: 277-283.
Gudin C. and Chaumont D. 1991. Cell fragility-the key problem of microalgae mass production in closed photobioreactors. Bioresource Technology 38: 145-151.
Hu Q. and Richmond A. 1996. Productivity and photosynthetic ef-ficiency of Spirulina platensis as affected by light intensity, algal density and rate of mixing in a flat plate photobioreactor. J. appl. Phycol. 8: 139-145.
Johnson E.A. and Schroeder W.A. 1995. Advances in Biochemical Engineering Biotechnology. In: Fiechter A. (ed.), Vol. 53. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp. 119-178.
Richmond A. 1986. Cell response to environmental factors. In: Richmond A. (ed.), CRC Handbook of Microalgal Mass Culture. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, pp. 69-99.
Richmond A. 1992. Mass production of microalgae: a mode of industrial photosynthesis. In: Barber J., Guerrero M.G. and Medrano H. (eds), Trends in Photosynthesis Research. Intercept Limited, Andover, pp. 305-317.
Richmond A. 1996. Efficient utilization of high irradiance for production of photoautotrophic cell mass: a survey. J. appl. Phycol. 8: 381-387.
Shaish A., Ben-Amotz A. and Avron M. 1992. Biosynthesis of ?-carotene in Dunaliella. Methods in Enzymology 213: 439-444.
Vonshak A. 1987. Biological limitations in developing the biotechnology for algal mass cultivation. Sciences de l'Eau 6: 99-103.
Vonshak A., Abeliovich A., Boussiba S., Arad S. and Richmond A. 1982. Production of Spirulina biomass: effects of environmental factors and population density. Biomass 2: 175-185.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
García-González, M., Moreno, J., Cañavate, J. et al. Conditions for open-air outdoor culture of Dunaliella salina in southern Spain. Journal of Applied Phycology 15, 177–184 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023892520443
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023892520443