Approach to biomass production of the marine microalga Tetraselmis suecica (kylin) butch using common garden fertilizer and soil extract as cheap nutrient supply in batch cultures

Abstract

We report the possibility of an economic cultivation of the marine microalga Tetraselmis suecica, using different mixtures of a common garden fertilizer, soil extract, micronutrients and vitamins. Maximum cellular densities were obtained with a nitrogen concentration of 14 μg/ml and maximum protein concentrations were obtained with 28 μg N/ml, in all cases. The mixture of fertilizer + soil extract + micronutrients gave the best results for obtaining maximum cellular densities and protein concentrations per ml of culture. An economic evaluation showed a maximum of 2770 g of microalgal protein/dollar and 210 × 1012 microalgal cells/dollar with the mixture of the fertilizer and soil extract.