Heterotrophic production of lutein by selected Chlorella strains

Seven Chlorella strains representing three species obtained from culture collections and research laboratories were screened for their potential of heterotrophic production of lutein on two different media (Basal and Kuhl) containing glucose. While both media supported good growth and lutein formation of the seven strains in darkness, higher biomass concentrations and lutein content were achieved on Basal medium. Chlorella protothecoides CS-41 was chosen from the seven strains for further investigation due to its higher productivities of both biomass and lutein. The maximal biomass concentration and lutein content of C. protothecoides cultivated heterotrophically with 9 g L-1 glucose in a 3.7-L fermenter were respectively 4.6 g dry cells L-1 and 4.60 mg lutein g(-1) dry cells on Basal medium, and 4.0 g dry cells L-1 and 4.36 mg lutein g(-1) dry cells on Kuhl medium. The heterotrophic cultivation process was scaled up successfully to 30 L using a fermentor, in which the Basal medium containing 36 g L-1 glucose was used; the maximal biomass concentration of 16.4 g dry cells L-1, specific growth rate of 0.92 d(-1), lutein content of 4.85 mg lutein g(-1) dry cells, growth yield of 0.47 g dry cells g(-1) glucose and lutein yield of 1.93 mg lutein g(-1) glucose were respectively achieved.