Yield and quality of cyanobacteria : spirulina maxima in continuous culture in response to light intensity

CynobacteriaSpirulina maxima was evaluated in an effort to increase the growth rate, biomass yield in continuous cultures. The light efficiency was dependent on the light energy absorbed by the cultures. Cultures with optical densities of 0.48 and 0.49 were considered the ones in which most of the incident light energy was converted to chemical energy (mass). Low-light experiments (30 μEm−2s−1) were efficient in terms of mass output and absorbed light energy (calorie). Low-light cultures did not require high calories to produce the same yield as high-light ones (100 μEm−2s−1). In addition, the total protein percentage was higher in low-light cultures, whereas the total carbohydrate percentage was higher in high-light cultures. In conclusion,Spirulina maxima responds the same way as many other alga and cyanobacteria.