Rapid analytical methods for the microalgal and cyanobacterial biorefinery: Application on strains of industrial importance

To realize the potential of microalgae in the biorefinery context, exploitation of multiple products is necessary for profitability and bioproduct valorization. Appropriate analytical tools are required for growth optimization, culture monitoring, and quality control purposes, with safe, low-tech, and low-cost solutions favorable. Rapid, high-throughput, and user-friendly methodologies were devised for (a) determination of phycobiliproteins, chlorophylls, carotenoids, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids and (b) qualitative and quantitative carotenoid profiling using UPLC-PDA-MSE. The complementary methods were applied on 11 commercially important microalgal strains including prasinophytes, haptophytes, and cyanobacteria, highlighting the suitability of some strains for coproduct exploitation and the method utility for research and industrial biotechnology applications. The UPLC method allowed separation of 41 different carotenoid compounds in <15 min. Simple techniques are described for further quantification and comparison of pigment profiles, allowing for easy strain selection and optimization for pigment production, with suitability for biotechnological or biomedical applications.

Automated summary

Exploiting multiple products is necessary for realizing the potential of microalgae in the biorefinery context. Rapid and user-friendly analytical tools are crucial for growth optimization and quality control purposes, with the development of high-throughput methodologies allowing for quantitative and qualitative analysis of various compounds in microalgae. These methods have been applied to commercially important microalgal strains, showcasing their potential for coproduct exploitation and biotechnological applications.