Eicosapentaenoic acid-rich biomass production by the microalga in a continuous-flow reactor (original) (raw)

The marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin is a potential source of the pharmaceutically valuable w3 polyunsaturated fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The results of indoor continuous growth of Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin are reported. The relationships between dilution rate (D), nitrate concentration and chemical composition were studied. Higher biomass and lipid productivities were obtained at low D values. EPA was found to be an intermediate metabolite and the best productivity (6 mg 1-r day-r) was achieved for D values ranging from 0.32 to 0.50 day-'. Under optimum conditions, 84 and 1170, respectively, of total recovered EPA were present in monogalactosyldia~lglycerol (MGDG) and in triacylglycerol (TG) moieties, respectively. Recorded EPAI! and EPA/20,4 03 ratios for all tested dilution rates were among the highest values ever reported, showing EPA purification to be easier to perform from this starting material than from many others commonly in use.