Comparing three different Phaeodactylum tricornutum strains for the production of chrysolaminarin in flat panel airlift photobioreactors

Abstract In recent years, various applications for algae-based ß-1,3-glucans have been postulated, including animal feed and human nutrition. Chrysolaminarin is a ß-1,3–1,6-glucan produced by diatoms such as Phaeodactylum tricornutum energy storage. It accumulated under nutrient-depleted cultivation conditions. this study, the production of chrysolaminarin in artificially illuminated scalable flat panel airlift photobioreactors (FPA) was investigated using P. two-stage process. growth stage primarily biomass produced, subsequent nitrogen-depleted induces accumulation chrysolaminarin. Three strains (SAG 1090-1a, SAG 1090-1b, 1090–6) were cultured at laboratory scale 6 L-FPA reactors controlled light conditions to characterize process identify strain. The content algae analysed additionally their contents eicosapentaenoic acid fucoxanthin, both which could be involved possible co-production. Strain 1090-1b exhibited highest productivity (317 ± 9 mg g DW −1 ) after nitrogen depletion, thus stood out most suitable A co-production three compounds possible. However, during depletion there occurred trade-offs between compounds. As amount fucoxanthin culture stagnated or even decreased depending on selected