Automated nutrient screening system enables high-throughput optimisation of microalgae production conditions

• Published in: Biotechnology for Biofuels
• Main Author: Radzun K.A.; Wolf J.; Jakob G.; Zhang E.; Stephens E.; Ross I.; Hankamer B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BioMed Central Ltd. 2015
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84929335045&doi=10.1186%2fs13068-015-0238-7&partnerID=40&md5=ff292b1ad0542af6a62e713be9ae4ed6

Background: Microalgae provide an excellent platform for the production of high-value-products and are increasingly being recognised as a promising production system for biomass, animal feeds and renewable fuels. Results: Here, we describe an automated screen, to enable high-throughput optimisation of 12 nutrients for microalgae production. Its miniaturised 1,728 multiwell format allows multiple microalgae strains to be simultaneously screened using a two-step process. Step 1 optimises the primary elements nitrogen and phosphorous. Step 2 uses Box-Behnken analysis to define the highest growth rates within the large multidimensional space tested (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Se, V, Si) at three levels (-1, 0, 1). The highest specific growth rates and maximum OD750 values provide a measure for continuous and batch culture. Conclusion: The screen identified the main nutrient effects on growth, pairwise nutrient interactions (for example, Ca-Mg) and the best production conditions of the sampled statistical space providing the basis for a targeted full factorial screen to assist with optimisation of algae production. © 2015 Radzun et al.; licensee BioMed Central.