Spirulina sp LEB-18 CULTURE USING EFFLUENT FROM THE ANAEROBIC DIGESTION

The carbon source is the most expensive nutrient for Spirulina production; effluents from anaerobic digestion contain this nutrient in the form of HCO3-. The aim of this study was to assess the growth kinetics, composition and fatty acid profile of Spirulina sp. LEB-18 grown in standard Zarrouk medium (NaHCO3 16.8 g L-1) and in Zarrouk medium replaced with 20% (v/v) effluent with reduced concentrations of NaHCO3 (5.3 and 2.8 g L-1). The use of effluent and lower concentrations of HCO3- was found to be an alternative to reduce the costs of Spirulina production, because there were no significant differences in growth parameters (mu(max) 0.324 - 0.354 d(-1); P-max 0.280 - 0.297 g L-1 d(-1)), in the different culture medium used. Lipids ranged between 4.9 and 5.0%; the media with effluent had higher levels of linoleic acid compared to the standard medium.