Cultivating Desmodesmus armatus (Chod.) Hegew. in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) waste water
Abstract
The possibility of using RAS waste water as
a cultivation medium for Desmodesmus armatus
(Chod.) Hegew. was investigated. Algal biomass increased
continuously reaching its maximum on the day
40 of cultivation. D. armatus culture was characterized
by a maximum content of total proteins of 23% on day
40 of cultivation. At the same time, 17 proteinogenic
amino acids, including 9 replaceable and 8 essential acids,
were detected and identified in D. armatus biomass.
Among these amino acids, maximum contents of
asparagine and glutamine were noted. A gradual increase
in the number of total photosynthetic pigments
until day 40 of cultivation was also observed. On day
40, the content of chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids in
D. armatus cells was maximal at 11.17, 7.07, and 12.05
mg g-1 dry weight, respectively. Therefore, cultivating
microalgae D. armatus in RAS waste water permits obtaining
an active growing culture that is characterized
by a constant increase of biomass and high nutrient
contents.