Journal of Food Processing & Technology

Evaluation of SCP production from Chlorella and Spirulina strains grown in autotrophic, mixotrophic and heterotrophic conditions in wastewater

Divya Kriti

GITAM University, India

: J Food Process Technol

Abstract:

BiotechnologyAlgae grow autotrophically and synthesize their food by taking energy from sunlight, carbon from carbon dioxide, and nutrients from growth medium. Chlorella and Spirulina are essentially phototrophs but their mixotrophic or heterotrophic growths can lead them to thrive even in the dark by getting energy and reducing equivalents exclusively from medium having glucose, etc. Utilization of glucose and equivalent molecules from waste water of various industries also leads to effective treatment and proper utilization of waste water. This marks a critical first step towards large-scale, high density, eco-friendly, cost-effective cultivation of algae using fermentation technology, thus meeting the ever growing demands of fuel and food for increasing population without causing pollution. This concept also encounters the problems of contamination, self-shading, etc in open ponds. This is a breakthrough idea for more commercial, economic and enhanced SCP production from renewable algal source. Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Spirulina sp. are one of the best algal strains for high cultivation of SCP fro waste water. In this paper we discuss the best growth conditions in waste water for both alga, both separately and combined for an optimum SCP production. The highest specific growth rates are evaluated for the above conditions and kinetic growth models are proposed.