Transformation of Brewery Subproducts into Valuable Biomass Using Mixotrophic Culture of Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Associated Bacteria

Abstract To develop a biorefinery concept applied in the brewery industry, Chlorella pyrenoidosa and a consortium of associated bacteria were cultivated mixotrophically in a continuous photobioreactor using brewery low-value subproducts as an integrative process. Beer production residues were biochemically characterized to assess the most promising options to be used as a nutrient source for microalgal cultivation. Due to its physical and chemical properties, pre-treated weak wort was used to prepare an organic complex culture medium for microalgal biotransformation. Filtration and nitrogen supplementation were necessary to improve nutrient removal and biomass productivity. Maximal removal of nitrate and phosphate obtained were 90% and 100% respectively. Depending on operation conditions, total carbohydrates depuration ranged from 50 - 80%. The initial concentration of total carbohydrates of the weak wort must be adjusted to 2 - 4g/L to maintain a stable equilibrium between microalgal and bacterial growth. The biochemical composition of produced biomass varied depending on the cultivation conditions as well as on its final use. Upon continuous mixotrophic conditions evaluated in this study, C. pyrenoidosa was composed mainly of carbohydrates and protein.

Chlorella sorokiniana and Chlorella minutissima exhibit antioxidant potentials, inhibit cholinesterases and modulate disaggregation of ß-amyloid fibrils

BACKGROUND: Microalgae are aquatic chlorophyll-containing organisms comprising unicellular microscopic forms, and their biomasses are potential sources of bioactive compounds, biofuels and food-based products. However, the neuroprotective effects of microalgal biomass have not been fully explored. In this study, biomass from two Chlorella species was characterized, and their antioxidant, anticholinesterase and anti-amyloidogenic activities were investigated. RESULTS: GC­MS analysis of the extracts revealed the presence of some phenols, sterols, steroids, fatty acids and terpenes. Ethanol extract of Chlorella sorokiniana (14.21 mg GAE/g) and dichloromethane extract of Chlorella minutissima (20.65 mg QE/g) had the highest total phenol and flavonoid contents, respectively. All the extracts scavenged 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) and hydroxyl radicals. The highest metal chelating activity of the extracts was observed in the ethanol extracts of C. minutissima (102.60 µg/mL) and C. sorokiniana (107.84 µg/mL). Furthermore, the cholinesterase inhibitory activities of the extracts showed that ethanol extract of C. sorokiniana (13.34 µg/mL) exhibited the highest acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, while dichloromethane extract of C. minutissima (11.78 µg/mL) showed the highest butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. Incubation of the ß-amyloid protein increased the aggregation of amyloid fibrils after 96 h. However, ethanol extract of C. sorokiniana and C. minutissima inhibited further aggregation of Aß1­42 and caused disaggregation of matured protein fibrils compared to the control. This study reveals the modulatory effects of C. sorokiniana and C. minutissima extracts on some mediators of Alzheimer's disease and provides insights into their potential benefits as functional food, nutraceutics or therapeutic agent for the management of this neurodegenerative disease.

Composición bioquímica y evaluación de la calidad proteica de la biomasa autotrófica de chlorella vulgaris / Biochemical composition and protein quality assessment of autotrophic biomass of Chlorella vulgaris

Se estudiaron la composición bioquímica y las características del perfil aminoacídico de la microalga Chlorella vulgaris, cultivada en régimen autotrófico, y se evaluó además la calidad de su proteína mediante métodos químicos. Los resultados evidenciaron que la biomasa de esta especie microalgal, dado su elevado contenido de proteína bruta y verdadera, superior al 40 y 30 porciento, respectivamente, unido a una composición balanceada y niveles aceptables de ácidos nucleicos, constituye una fuente alternativa de posible utilización como suplemento nutricional. El patrón de aminoácidos mostró una distribución bien equilibrada, que incluyó todos los aminoácidos esenciales, en tanto la fuente proteica presentó un cómputo corregido de 0,64, donde incidieron la digestibilidad de la biomasa, con un valor de 75,9 porciento, y el contenido relativamente bajo de aminoácidos sulfurados

Accumulation of cadmium from moderately concentrated cadmium solutions by chlorella and scenedesmus strains

A acumulaçäo de Cadmio a partir de soluçöes contaminadas com o metal foi estudada através do emprego de 3 diferentes microalgas. Dentre as espécies testadas a Chlorella homosphaera mostrou maior poder de acumulaçäo comparada com células de Scenedesmus quadricauda e Chlorella homosphaera e Scenedesmus quadricauda foram consideravelmente afetadas pela presen