The influence of culture conditions on biomass and high value product generation by Nannochloropsis gaditana in aquaculture

The effect of culture conditions on the productivity of biomass and high value products by microalgae has been studied in order to maximise these parameters and meet the nutritional requirements for aquaculture. To this end, a range of temperatures (15-30 °C), incident photon flux densities (PFD) (250-1600 μmol·s− 1·m− 2) and dilution rates (0.1-0.5 d− 1) have been tested in indoor Nannochloropsis gaditana cultures. Predictive models for biomass and high value product productivities are presented. Photoinhibition was observed in cultures at both high incident PFD and temperature. The maximum biomass, EPA, vaucheriaxanthin and β-carotene productivities (0.429 g·L− 1·d− 1 and 17.2, 1.05 and 1.31 mg·L− 1·d− 1, respectively) were achieved at 25 °C, with an average irradiance of 170 μmol·s− 1·m− 2 and a dilution rate of 0.3 d− 1.