Mixotrophic Cultivation of <i>Dunaliella tertiolecta</i> in Cheese Whey Effluents to Enhance Biomass and Exopolysaccharides (EPS) Production: Biochemical and Functional Insights
The rapid growth of the dairy industry has resulted in a significant increase in the generation of effluents, which are characterized by a high organic content that poses environmental challenges. In alignment with sustainable practices and the principles of the circular economy, this study investig...
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2025-03-01
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| author | Konstantina Tsotsouli Spyros Didos Konstantinos Koukaras Anagnostis Argiriou |
| author_facet | Konstantina Tsotsouli Spyros Didos Konstantinos Koukaras Anagnostis Argiriou |
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| description | The rapid growth of the dairy industry has resulted in a significant increase in the generation of effluents, which are characterized by a high organic content that poses environmental challenges. In alignment with sustainable practices and the principles of the circular economy, this study investigates the valorization of cheese whey (CW) effluents through the cultivation of the microalga <i>Dunaliella tertiolecta</i> under mixotrophic conditions. The research aims to utilize cheese whey effluents as a supplemental growth medium to enhance the production of algal biomass and extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs). The results reveal that CW facilitated a 37% improvement in <i>D. tertiolecta</i> growth and led to an approximately eight times greater biomass productivity compared to under photoautotrophic conditions, while the EPS production increased by 30%. Chemical and techno-functional analyses of the microalgal biomass and EPSs suggest promising applications as natural product additives for the food industry. Biomass derived from photoautotrophic culture demonstrated greater antioxidant activity and total polyphenols content. Additionally, the lipid profile revealed 16 distinct fatty acids. On the other hand, biomass from the mixotrophic culture exhibited higher protein levels and eight fatty acids, indicating the influence of the cultivation mode on the biochemical composition. Regarding the EPSs, mixotrophic cultivation resulted in elevated antioxidant activity and total polyphenols content, as well as higher protein and sugar levels. Furthermore, the EPSs produced under mixotrophic conditions exhibited superior techno-functional properties compared to those of the photoautotrophic culture, making them ideal candidates for use as alternative natural food additives. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-9e3b2b4e858448ff9e45f7d68d15fd902025-08-20T02:42:26ZengMDPI AGMarine Drugs1660-33972025-03-0123312010.3390/md23030120Mixotrophic Cultivation of <i>Dunaliella tertiolecta</i> in Cheese Whey Effluents to Enhance Biomass and Exopolysaccharides (EPS) Production: Biochemical and Functional InsightsKonstantina Tsotsouli0Spyros Didos1Konstantinos Koukaras2Anagnostis Argiriou3Institute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, GreeceInstitute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, GreeceInstitute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, GreeceInstitute of Applied Biosciences, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, GreeceThe rapid growth of the dairy industry has resulted in a significant increase in the generation of effluents, which are characterized by a high organic content that poses environmental challenges. In alignment with sustainable practices and the principles of the circular economy, this study investigates the valorization of cheese whey (CW) effluents through the cultivation of the microalga <i>Dunaliella tertiolecta</i> under mixotrophic conditions. The research aims to utilize cheese whey effluents as a supplemental growth medium to enhance the production of algal biomass and extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs). The results reveal that CW facilitated a 37% improvement in <i>D. tertiolecta</i> growth and led to an approximately eight times greater biomass productivity compared to under photoautotrophic conditions, while the EPS production increased by 30%. Chemical and techno-functional analyses of the microalgal biomass and EPSs suggest promising applications as natural product additives for the food industry. Biomass derived from photoautotrophic culture demonstrated greater antioxidant activity and total polyphenols content. Additionally, the lipid profile revealed 16 distinct fatty acids. On the other hand, biomass from the mixotrophic culture exhibited higher protein levels and eight fatty acids, indicating the influence of the cultivation mode on the biochemical composition. Regarding the EPSs, mixotrophic cultivation resulted in elevated antioxidant activity and total polyphenols content, as well as higher protein and sugar levels. Furthermore, the EPSs produced under mixotrophic conditions exhibited superior techno-functional properties compared to those of the photoautotrophic culture, making them ideal candidates for use as alternative natural food additives.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/3/120microalgae<i>Dunaliella tertiolecta</i>cheese whey effluentsexopolysaccharidescircular economy |
| spellingShingle | Konstantina Tsotsouli Spyros Didos Konstantinos Koukaras Anagnostis Argiriou Mixotrophic Cultivation of <i>Dunaliella tertiolecta</i> in Cheese Whey Effluents to Enhance Biomass and Exopolysaccharides (EPS) Production: Biochemical and Functional Insights Marine Drugs microalgae <i>Dunaliella tertiolecta</i> cheese whey effluents exopolysaccharides circular economy |
| title | Mixotrophic Cultivation of <i>Dunaliella tertiolecta</i> in Cheese Whey Effluents to Enhance Biomass and Exopolysaccharides (EPS) Production: Biochemical and Functional Insights |
| title_full | Mixotrophic Cultivation of <i>Dunaliella tertiolecta</i> in Cheese Whey Effluents to Enhance Biomass and Exopolysaccharides (EPS) Production: Biochemical and Functional Insights |
| title_fullStr | Mixotrophic Cultivation of <i>Dunaliella tertiolecta</i> in Cheese Whey Effluents to Enhance Biomass and Exopolysaccharides (EPS) Production: Biochemical and Functional Insights |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mixotrophic Cultivation of <i>Dunaliella tertiolecta</i> in Cheese Whey Effluents to Enhance Biomass and Exopolysaccharides (EPS) Production: Biochemical and Functional Insights |
| title_short | Mixotrophic Cultivation of <i>Dunaliella tertiolecta</i> in Cheese Whey Effluents to Enhance Biomass and Exopolysaccharides (EPS) Production: Biochemical and Functional Insights |
| title_sort | mixotrophic cultivation of i dunaliella tertiolecta i in cheese whey effluents to enhance biomass and exopolysaccharides eps production biochemical and functional insights |
| topic | microalgae <i>Dunaliella tertiolecta</i> cheese whey effluents exopolysaccharides circular economy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/3/120 |
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