RESUMO
The present work evaluated the ultrasound (US) effects on the growth of Pseudoneochloris marina and Chlorella zofingiensis. For P. marina, US treatment did not increase cell proliferation and reduced cell density when used for 60 min (exponential phase, for 5 days), indicating a possible occurrence of cell damage. For C. zofingiensis, the application of discontinuous US for 10 min resulted in an increase of 65 % in biomass concentration compared to the control. These distinct behaviors indicate that microalgae species react differently to physical stimuli. After US treatment, a reduction of carotenoid, chlorophyll, lipid and protein concentrations was observed, which may be related to changes in the metabolic pathways to produce these compounds. Overall, the results of the present study show the potential of discontinuous US to enhance microalgae cell proliferation.
