Investigating the Effect of Light Exposure on Growth Kinetic and Natural Pigments Production by Spirulina platensis Using Stirred Photobioreactor

Subject Areas : Microbiology

Sajjad Torabi ¹ , Mahshid Jahadi ² , Nafiseh Ghasemisepro ³ , Maryam Araj-Shirvani ⁴

1 - Department of Food Science and Technology Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Isfahan Branch (Khorasgan), Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
2 - Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Isfahan Branch (Khorasgan), Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
3 - Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Isfahan Branch (Khorasgan), Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
4 - Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Isfahan Branch (Khorasgan), Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

Received: 2022-02-23 Accepted : 2022-04-11 Published : 2022-09-23

Keywords: Phycocyanin, Photobioreactor, Light exposure, Spirulina platensis,

Abstract :

Introduction: Nowadays, Spirulina platensis is one of the most popular microalgae, containing significant amounts of active molecules and a rich source of pigments such as phycocyanin. Materials and Methods: In this study, the effect of exposure period of light emission on culture of Spirulina platensis and production of pigments (chlorophyll, phycocyanin, allophycocyanin and carotenoids) at 28 ° C, pH of 9, in submerged culture in a stirred tank photobioreactor was studied. Results: The results showed that increasing the exposure time is a growth stimulant in spirulina and by increasing the exposure time, the concentrations of biomass, chlorophyll, phycocyanin, allofycocyanin and carotenoids are increased significantly (p < 0.05). In the end days of cultivation, cell density increased the effect of surface shading on depth and the penetration of light into the depth of cultivation was reduced that affected the chlorophyll content. The 24-hour exposure period showed the highest concentrations of biomass, phycocyanin, allofycocyanin at 1.46 g/l, 145 and 39.57 mg/l, respectively, while the 16-hour exposure period had the highest concentrations of chlorophyll and carotenoids at 8.62 and 3.55 mg/l, respectively. Conclusion: Generally, using of a 24-hour exposure period increases the production of pigments and biomass. However, the production of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments decreased at the end of the cultivation period due to the increase in biomass concentration and the reduction of light penetration in the 24-hour light treatment.

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