Improvement of Unsaturated Fatty Acid Production from Porphyridium cruentum Using a Two-Phase Culture System in a Photobioreactor with Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)

In this study, the culture conditions for Porphyridium cruentum were optimized to obtain the maximum biomass and lipid productions. The eicosapentaenoic acid content was increased by pH optimization. P. cruentum was cultured with modified F/2 medium in 14-L photobioreactors using a two-phase culture system, in which the green (520 nm) and red (625 nm) light-emitting diodes ( LEDs) were used during the first and second phases for biomass production and lipid production, respectively. Various parameters, including aeration rate, light intensity, photoperiod, and pH were optimized. The maximum biomass concentration of 0.91 g dcw/l was obtained with an aeration rate of 0.75 vvm, a light intensity of 300 mu mol m(-2)s(-1), and a photoperiod of 24:0 h. The maximum lipid production of 51.8% (w/w) was obtained with a light intensity of 400 mu mol m(-2)s(-1) and a photoperiod of 18:6 h. Additionally, the eicosapentaenoic acid and unsaturated fatty acid contents reached 30.6% to 56.2% at pH 6.0.

Automated summary

By optimizing the culture conditions and utilizing LED light, this study successfully increased the biomass and lipid productions of Porphyridium cruentum, with an enhancement in eicosapentaenoic acid content.