Conditions for open-air
outdoor culture of Dunaliella salina in southern Spain
M.
García-González,
J. Moreno, J.P. Cañavate,
V. Anguis, A. Prieto, C. Manzano, F.J. Florencio, M.G. Guerrero-2003
Journal of Applied Phycology, 15(2):
177-184
Abstract:
The optimization of the operation, under the climatic
conditions of southern Spain, of an experimental plant for β-carotene
production by Dunaliella has been pursued. The effects of mixing,
culture depth, cell density and dilution cycles on β-carotene
and biomass productivity were studied under a semicontinuous culture regime
in open tanks outdoors. Using 3 m2-surface containers, the
highest productivity values, for both β-carotene
and biomass, were recorded with a flow rate of 0.55 m s-1; 10 cm
depth; 0.7 - 0.9 × 106cell ml-1,
population density; and dilution cycles of two days. An average annual
productivity of 1.65 g (dry wt) m-2 d-1 was estimated
for Dunaliella biomass, being that for β-carotene
of about 0.1 g m-2 d-1. Under these optimized
conditions, experiments have been carried out at the Cadiz Bay with 20 m2-surface
tanks during a whole-year cycle. The results obtained have validated this
location and the operating conditions established as being most appropriate
for efficient mass production of β-carotene
rich D. salina.
(Centro de Investigación y Cultivo
de Especies Marinas "El Toruño",
Apt. 16, Cádiz, 11500, Spain, e-mail of M.G. Guerrero: mgguerrero@us.es)