Profiling of carotenoids in six microalgae (Eustigmatophyceae) and assessment of their β-carotene productions in bubble column photobioreactor

The profiles of carotenoids and production of beta-carotene by six eustigmatophytes, Eustigmatos magnus, Eustigmatos polyphem, Eustigmatos vischeri, Vischeria helvetica, Vischeria punctata and Vischeria stellata, grown in a bubble column photobioreactor were measured. All eustigmatophytes contained beta-carotene, violaxanthin and vaucheriaxanthin as their major carotenoids and accumulated large amount of beta-carotene, which accounted for over 50 % of total carotenoids. Maximum intracellular beta-carotene contents ranged 1.5-3.5 % of dry wt and in V. stellata it reached 5.9 % dry wt, accompanied by a biomass dry wt >7.3 g/l, with the highest up to 9.8 g/l. These eustigmatophytes are thus promising producers of beta-carotene.