Efficient cultivation and scale-up of marine microalgae Fistulifera peliculosa and Nannochloropsis oculata for sustainable aquaculture applications

This study investigates the aquacultural potential of marine microalgae strains F. peliculosa and N. oculata, which are renowned for their high protein, lipid, carotenoid, and carbohydrate contents. Microalgae are emerging as promising alternatives or supplements to traditional fish meal and fish oi...

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Main Authors: Ashfaq Ahmad, Syed Salman Ashraf
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Chemical Engineering Journal Advances
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666821125000171
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author Ashfaq Ahmad
Syed Salman Ashraf
author_facet Ashfaq Ahmad
Syed Salman Ashraf
author_sort Ashfaq Ahmad
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the aquacultural potential of marine microalgae strains F. peliculosa and N. oculata, which are renowned for their high protein, lipid, carotenoid, and carbohydrate contents. Microalgae are emerging as promising alternatives or supplements to traditional fish meal and fish oils because of their ability to provide sustainable and nutrient-rich resources for aquaculture. However, challenges, such as optimizing large-scale cultivation and culture medium composition, need to be addressed to realize their full potential. This study estimated the effects of various cultivation media (Conway, F/2, and TMRL) on microalgae cultivation from a laboratory to an upscale cultivation using an optimized medium and conditions. Brown marine strain F. peliculosa achieved the maximum cell density of 29.04 × 106 cells/mL and maximum biomass production of 1.26 g/L in a 6 L NANO photobioreactor and 25.65 × 106 cells/mL and 1.06 g/L in a 20 L tank using an optimized Conway medium. Conversely, the green marine strain N. oculata reached a maximum cell density of 80.82 × 106 cells mL-1 and maximum biomass production of 1.35 g/L in the NANO photobioreactor and 77.61 × 106 cells/mL and maximum biomass production of 1.24 g/L in the 20 L tank with the optimum F/2 media composition. The highest lipid, protein, and carbohydrate content in F. peliculosa was 21.63 %, 18.76 %, and 11.13 %, respectively. For N. oculata, these values were 17.76 %, 32.23 %, and 12.76 %, respectively, in the F/2 media. Cultivation experiments demonstrated that F. peliculosa and N. oculata exhibited robust biomass productivity and nutrient profiles, underscoring their feasibility as sustainable inputs in aqua-fired formulations. These findings underscore the importance of these microalgal strains in promoting eco-friendly aquaculture practices and decreasing the dependence on overexploited marine resources.
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spelling doaj-art-1f91f0ed6fa84063aad0067749e2b49b2025-08-20T03:00:35ZengElsevierChemical Engineering Journal Advances2666-82112025-05-012210072010.1016/j.ceja.2025.100720Efficient cultivation and scale-up of marine microalgae Fistulifera peliculosa and Nannochloropsis oculata for sustainable aquaculture applicationsAshfaq Ahmad0Syed Salman Ashraf1Department of Biological Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; ASPIRE Research Institute for Food Security in the Drylands (ARIFSID), United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates; Corresponding authors.Department of Biological Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; ASPIRE Research Institute for Food Security in the Drylands (ARIFSID), United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates; Center for Biotechnology (BTC), Khalifa University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT), Khalifa University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Corresponding authors.This study investigates the aquacultural potential of marine microalgae strains F. peliculosa and N. oculata, which are renowned for their high protein, lipid, carotenoid, and carbohydrate contents. Microalgae are emerging as promising alternatives or supplements to traditional fish meal and fish oils because of their ability to provide sustainable and nutrient-rich resources for aquaculture. However, challenges, such as optimizing large-scale cultivation and culture medium composition, need to be addressed to realize their full potential. This study estimated the effects of various cultivation media (Conway, F/2, and TMRL) on microalgae cultivation from a laboratory to an upscale cultivation using an optimized medium and conditions. Brown marine strain F. peliculosa achieved the maximum cell density of 29.04 × 106 cells/mL and maximum biomass production of 1.26 g/L in a 6 L NANO photobioreactor and 25.65 × 106 cells/mL and 1.06 g/L in a 20 L tank using an optimized Conway medium. Conversely, the green marine strain N. oculata reached a maximum cell density of 80.82 × 106 cells mL-1 and maximum biomass production of 1.35 g/L in the NANO photobioreactor and 77.61 × 106 cells/mL and maximum biomass production of 1.24 g/L in the 20 L tank with the optimum F/2 media composition. The highest lipid, protein, and carbohydrate content in F. peliculosa was 21.63 %, 18.76 %, and 11.13 %, respectively. For N. oculata, these values were 17.76 %, 32.23 %, and 12.76 %, respectively, in the F/2 media. Cultivation experiments demonstrated that F. peliculosa and N. oculata exhibited robust biomass productivity and nutrient profiles, underscoring their feasibility as sustainable inputs in aqua-fired formulations. These findings underscore the importance of these microalgal strains in promoting eco-friendly aquaculture practices and decreasing the dependence on overexploited marine resources.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666821125000171Marine microalgaeCultivation media cost analysesBiochemical compositionsFish meal replacementPhotobioreactorSustainable aquaculture
spellingShingle Ashfaq Ahmad
Syed Salman Ashraf
Efficient cultivation and scale-up of marine microalgae Fistulifera peliculosa and Nannochloropsis oculata for sustainable aquaculture applications
Chemical Engineering Journal Advances
Marine microalgae
Cultivation media cost analyses
Biochemical compositions
Fish meal replacement
Photobioreactor
Sustainable aquaculture
title Efficient cultivation and scale-up of marine microalgae Fistulifera peliculosa and Nannochloropsis oculata for sustainable aquaculture applications
title_full Efficient cultivation and scale-up of marine microalgae Fistulifera peliculosa and Nannochloropsis oculata for sustainable aquaculture applications
title_fullStr Efficient cultivation and scale-up of marine microalgae Fistulifera peliculosa and Nannochloropsis oculata for sustainable aquaculture applications
title_full_unstemmed Efficient cultivation and scale-up of marine microalgae Fistulifera peliculosa and Nannochloropsis oculata for sustainable aquaculture applications
title_short Efficient cultivation and scale-up of marine microalgae Fistulifera peliculosa and Nannochloropsis oculata for sustainable aquaculture applications
title_sort efficient cultivation and scale up of marine microalgae fistulifera peliculosa and nannochloropsis oculata for sustainable aquaculture applications
topic Marine microalgae
Cultivation media cost analyses
Biochemical compositions
Fish meal replacement
Photobioreactor
Sustainable aquaculture
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666821125000171
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