Abstract:
This study evaluated the feasibility of introducing Dunaliella tertiolecta stored in the laboratorys culture collection to produce lutein. Microalgae were cultured in a 2-L Duran bottle (diameter 136 mm. x height 248 mm.) for 8 days under conditions of salinity, nitrogen content and source, light intensity and wavelength, and different air supply patterns. The salinity of the medium was adjusted in the range of 30 150 ppt. Nitrogen content in the range of 3.1-18.6 mg-nitrogen/l. Nitrogen source are NaNO3, Ca(NO3)2, Urea and (NH4)2SO4 at light intensity of 67-402 µmol photons/m²×s with red, blue and white light. The airing pattern was 2.5% v/v carbon dioxide and normal air at 150%-1,000% nitrogen concentration. The results show that microalgae can be grown in culture at 30 ppt salinity by Ca(NO3)2 as nitrogen source at 1,000% nitrogen concentration, using white light at 402 µmol photons/m²×s with 2.5% v/v carbon dioxide aeration at a flow rate of 1.6 liters/min give the maximum microalgae growth at 435.18 ± 57.47 x 104 cells/ml, obtained maximum dry weight of 1,397.3 ± 84.03 mg/l and produce lutein with 3.25 ± 0.23 mg/l or 2.49 ± 0.08 mg/g. Under these conditions, the microalgae Dunaliella tertiolecta was able to produce 46.44% protein by dry weight, which was 464.38 mg/g.