INDUSTRIAL PLANT FOR PRODUCTION OF Spirulina sp. LEB 18

ABSTRACT Biorefineries based on microalgae produce biofuels and co-products with added value. Microalgae mainly require water, carbon dioxide and sunlight for growth. The bioproducts of the cultivation of these microorganisms can be fully used in a microalgae photobiorefinery. The objective of this work was to study the behavior of physico-chemical variables and kinetic and biological responses in industrial cultivation of Spirulina sp. LEB 18, aiming at the operation of a microalgal photobiorefinery. The maximum specific growth rate (0.133 1/d), the minimum generation time (5.2 d) and maximum productivity (14.9 g/m².d) were obtained in the first 9 d of microalgae growth. The maximum biomass concentration (1.64 g/L) was obtained in 37 d of cultivation. The highest levels of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids in the biomass were 10.6, 57.0 and 11.7%, respectively. The plant monitoring demonstrated that the microalgae produced biomass with high quality for application as biofuels, energy, health and nutrition human.