Utilising light-emitting diodes of specific narrow wavelengths for the optimization and co-production of multiple high-value compounds in Porphyridium purpureum

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2016-12, Vol.221, p.607-615
• Main Authors: Coward, Thea, Fuentes-Grünewald, Claudio, Silkina, Alla, Oatley-Radcliffe, Darren L., Llewellyn, Gareth, Lovitt, Robert W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: beta Carotene - metabolism; Biomass; Biotechnology - instrumentation; Biotechnology - methods; Chlorophyll - metabolism; Exopolysaccharides; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids - metabolism; FTIR; Light; Phycobiliproteins; Phycobiliproteins - metabolism; Pigments; Polysaccharides - metabolism; Porphyridium; Porphyridium - growth & development; Porphyridium - metabolism
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.09.093

[Display omitted] •Green light plays a significant role in the growth of Porphyridium purpureum.•Multi-chromatic LED wavelengths accumulated the highest yields of valuable products.•Photo-adaption and photo-protection are suspected to boost product yield.•Specific wavelengths can increase product ratios increasing biomass value. The effect of specific narrow light-emitting diode (LED) wavelengths (red, green, blue) and a combination of LED wavelengths (red, green and blue – RGB) on biomass composition produced by Porphyridium purpureum is studied. Phycobiliprotein, fatty acids, exopolysaccharides, pigment content, and the main macromolecules composition were analysed to determine the effect of wavelength on multiple compounds of commercial interest. The results demonstrate that green light plays a significant role in the growth of rhodophyta, due to phycobiliproteins being able to harvest green wavelengths where chlorophyll pigments absorb poorly. However, under multi-chromatic LED wavelengths, P. purpureum biomass accumulated the highest yield of valuable products such as eicosapentaenoic acid (∼2.9% DW), zeaxanthin (∼586μgg−1DW), β-carotene (397μgg−1DW), exopolysaccharides (2.05g/L−1), and phycobiliproteins (∼4.8% DW). This increased accumulation is likely to be the combination of both photo-adaption and photo-protection, under the combined specific wavelengths employed.