METHOD TO SELECTIVELY PRODUCE METABOLITES FROM MICROALGAE OF THE GENUS GALDIERIA

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method to selectively produce metabolites from microalgae Galdieria sp. The method of the present invention comprises multiplying the biomass of the microalgae in mixotrophic and/or heterotrophic conditions with the presence of salts, separating the biomass, washing the biomass and inducing the production of metabolites, where the culture conditions of the metabolite production stage depend on the molecule that is desired to be obtained.

Description

Claims

1. A method to selectively produce metabolites from microalgae of Galdieria sp., with the method comprising: a) multiplication of microalgae biomass under mixotrophic and/or heterotrophic conditions;b) separation of the biomass from the culture medium;c) washing of the biomass; andd) induction of the production of metabolites;wherein the culture medium in stage a) comprises NaCl at a concentration between 0 and 150 g/L and an organic source of nitrogen, and the stage is carried out at a temperature between 30 and 60° C.;wherein stage d), induction of metabolites, is carried out at a concentration of NaCl between 15 and 125 g/L, a temperature between 18 and 65° C. and with a pH between 2 and 5, in the absence of carbon sources; andwherein the specific culture conditions of stage d) depend on the metabolite to be produced.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein temperature of stage a) is maintained between 35 and 55° C.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein stage a) is carried out for a period between 3 and 9 days.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein in stage a) the microalgae growth medium is maintained at acidic pH.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the pH of the culture medium in stage a) is maintained at a pH between 1.5 and 6.5.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the organic source of nitrogen in stage a) is yeast extract in concentrations between 0.1 and 2 g/L.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the culture medium in stage a) is further supplemented with a source of inorganic nitrogen.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the source of inorganic nitrogen is ammonium sulfate (NH4)2SO4) at a concentration between 0.5 and 3 g/L.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein in stage d) the microalgae are grown in a medium with NaCl at a concentration between 20 and 110 g/L, at a pH between 2 and 4, at a temperature between 18 and 60° C. in the absence or in the presence of light.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein in stage d) the microalgae are grown in a medium with NaCl at a concentration between 40 and 60 g/L, at a pH between 2 and 3, at a temperature between 20 and 30° C. in the presence of light.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the culture medium in stage d) is further supplemented with an inorganic source of nitrogen.

12. The method according to claim 9 wherein the main metabolites produced by the microalgae are lipids.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the metabolites mainly produced are pigments.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the culture medium in stage d) is further supplemented with an inorganic source of nitrogen.