Biomass production and variation in the biochemical profile (total protein, carbohydrates, RNA, lipids and fatty acids of seven species of marine microalgae)

Abstract

Seven species of marine microalgae (Pavlova lutheri, Isochrysis galbana, Tetraselmis suecica, Chaetoceros calcitrans, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Rhodomonas spp and Heterosigma akashiwo) were harvested at three phases in the growth curve and biochemical composition was determined. Saturated fatty acids and, to a lesser extent, monoethylenic fatty acids represent between 70 and 100% of the total fatty acids. RNA levels never excedeed 2.5%. The daily production was calculated for each batch culture in three growth phases and was compared with the production of a semicontinuous culture maintained in the exponential phase. The daily production of each of the biochemical components also varied with the species