Work

Mixotrophic Cultivation of Polar Microalga Chlamydomonas sp. RCC2488 (Malina) Using Potato Peel Hydrolysates as Carbon Source

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Chlamydomonas malina is a polar microalga with high PUFA production under phototrophic conditions. In this study, C. malina, strain RCC2488, was cultivated on glucose and potato peel hydrolysates (PPH), at 120 µmol photons m-2 s-1 of light intensity, to investigate the feasibility of growing under mixotrophic conditions. Potato peels were subjected to an acid-hydrothermal pretreatment. The resulting material was separated into three fractions, each of which was prepared for the subsequent enzymatic reaction with a-amylase and amyloglucosidase: PPH1, supernatant + paste collectively; PPH2, only paste, H2SO4 – removed with water; PPH3, only supernatant. Transmembrane glucose transport, growth kinetics, macromolecular composition, as well as lipid types, and fatty acid profile of C. malina were determined. The microalga was able to grow and transport glucose under mixotrophic but not heterotrophic conditions. The highest concentration of reducing sugar (glucose) was found in PPH1 and PPH3. However, the lowest biomass content was found in those hydrolysates, likely due to the presence of furfural and hidroxymethylfurfural (HMF). In contrast, C. malina had the highest biomass productivity in glucose and PPH2. The PPHs promoted lipid accumulation in C. malina but with different lipid composition. PPH1 and PPH3 promoted the synthesis of TAG, while PPH2 allowed the accumulation of polar lipids with high PUFA content. Therefore, pretreatment and hydrolysis optimization are necessary to use potato peel as an efficient carbon source without toxic by-products. Mixotrophic cultivation of C. malina was possible but not ideal since higher growth is attained under phototrophic conditions.

Source: BioEnergy Research

DOI: 10.1007/s12155-025-10829-9

Authors: Shah Rucksana Akhter Urme, Laura Barth, Leobardo Serrano-Carreón, Alfredo Martinez, Daniela Morales-Sánchez

Institutions: University of Bari Aldo Moro, RWTH Aachen University, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Language: English

Topic: Algal biology and biofuel production

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Affordable and clean energy, Zero hunger

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,990