Properties and Products of Algae: Proceedings of the Symposium on the Culture of Algae sponsored by the Division of Microbial Chemistry and Technology of the American Chemical Society, held in New York City, September 7–12, 1969

158 Pages·1970·4.69 MB·English

by  J. E. Zajic

Properties and
Products of Algae
Properties and
Prod ucts of Algae
Proceedings of the Symposium on the Culture
of Algae sponsored by the Division of Microbial
Chemistry and Technology of the American
ChemiCal Society, held in New York City, Sep
tember 7-12, 1969
Edited by J. E. Zajic
Biochemical Engineering
Faculty of Engineering Science
University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario, Canada
<]?PLENUM PRESS- NEWYORK-LONDON -1970
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 75-112588
ISBN-13: 978-1-4684-1826-2 e-ISBN-13: 978-1-4684-1824-8
001: 10.1007/978-1-4684-1824-8
© 1970 Plenum Press, New York
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1970
ft DiyisiJ)n. of. Plenmn Publisfting Corporation
227 West 17th Street, New York, N. Y. 10011
United Kingdom edition published by Plenum Press, London
A Division of Plenum Publishing Corporation, Ltd.
Donington House, 30 Norfolk Street, London W.C.2, England
All rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form
without written permission from the publisher
AP,R 7 1971
PREFACE
The Fermentation and Biotechnology Division
of the American Chemical Society annually
organizes symposia on topics vital to the
applied biosciences. In September, 1969, a
symposium was held on "Properties and Products
of Algae". Papers presented at this symposium
covered numerous aspects of algal culture with
emphasis on the special properties and products
produced by algae of economic interest. The
art of handling algae is rapidly becoming a
science. The papers presented herein are part
of man's attempt to understand the contribution
of the algae to man's world.
v
Contributors to this Volume:
H. H. Blecker
Department of Chemistry
University of Michigan Flint College
Flint, Michigan
Y. S. Chiu
Biochemical Engineering
Faculty of Engineering Science
University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario
N. L. Clesceri
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, New York
Thomas H. Haines
The City College of the City University of New York
New York, New York
Raymond W. Holton
Department of Botany
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Eva Knettig
Biochemical Engineering
Faculty of Engineering Science
University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario
P. J. Lavin
Albany County Health Department
Albany, New York
vii
viii CONTRIBUTORS
G. C. McDonald
Albany County Sewer District
Albany, New York
Edward J. Schantz
Department of the Army
Fort Detrick, Maryland
R. D. Spear
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, New York
B. Volesky
Biochemical Engineering
Faculty of Engineering Science
University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario
Varley E. Wiedeman
Department of Biology
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
J. E. Zajic
Biochemical Engineering
Faculty of Engineering Science
University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario
CONTENTS
Heterotrophic Growth of Algae 1
J. E. Zajic and Y. S. Chiu
Algal Products • • • . • • 49
B. Volesky, J. E. Zajic, and E. Knettig
Alagal Toxins • • 83
E. J. Schantz
Kinetics of Algal Growth in Austere Media • . • • 97
G. C. McDonald, R. D. Spear, P. J. Lavin, and
N. L. Clesceri
Heterotrophic Nutrition of Waste-Stabilization
Pond Algae • . • • • • • • • • • 107
V. E. Wiedeman
Fatty Acids of Blue-Green Algae • 115
R. W. Holton and H. H. Blecker
Algae Sulfolipids and Chlorosulfolipids 129
T. H. Haines
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Index 143
ix
HETEROTROPHIC CULTURE OF ALGAE
J.E. Zajic and Y.S. Chiu
Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
Science, University of Western Ontario, London
INTRODUCTION
Classically all algae form their cellular carbon solely from
carbon dioxide by photosynthesis. However, some are facultative
heterotrophs and are able to utilize organic substrates as a
source of carbon. Also there are obligate heterotrophic algae
which must obtain at least some organic compounds from their
surroundings. For example, the colorless alga Prototheca zopfii,
which does not have the ability to photosynthesize, is unable to
grow in the absence of organic materials (Barker, 1935). This
alga utilizes ammonia, nitrogen from yeast auto1yzate as well as
glucose. It is unable to grow in the complete absence of yeast
auto1yzate.
Under heterotrophic conditions organic nitrogen is not always
necessary, however algal growth is often accelerated by a simul
taneous provision of both organic carbon and organic nitrogen
sources (Kiyohara et a1, 1960; Kathrein, 1964; Griffiths, 1967).
Kiyohara et al (1960) observed maximum growth of the blue-green
alga To1ypothrix tenuis when cas amino acids and glucose were added
together.
As have been shown by many workers (Iggena, 1938; Pearsall
et a1, 1940; Neish, 1951; Killam et a1, 1956; Samejima et a1, 1958;
Mineeva, 1962b; Dvorakova-H1adka, 1966; Karlander et a1, 1966),
heterotrophic growth is accelerated upon introduction of light.
For convenience of nomenclature, this type of growth has been
called photoheterotrophy or mixotrophy in contrast to photohetero
trophy in which cellular material is synthesized solely from in
organic matter in light. Thus in both photoheterotrophy and
1
2 J. E. ZAJIC AND Y. S. CHIU
photoautotrophy light is involved. There also exists another type
of nutrition in which light is involved. That was shown by Algeus
(1948b) in which Chlorella vulgaris grew by using atmospheric
carbon dioxide and glycocoll. ~. vulgaris utilizes the amino
moiety of glycocoll by deamination and by releasing ammonia which
is then assimilated. This occurs in both light and dark, however,
conversion is much greater in light. Glycocoll is not a source of
carbon but it does provide a source of organic nitrogen which makes
this process also heterotrophic. Thus glycocoll is not used as a
source of energy.
Apart from the growth of algae in nature, photoautotrophic
algae production has not been successful on a large scale. Natur
al processes in which large scale photoautotrophic culture is con
ducted are (1) for increasing field fertility (Watanabe, 1962) and
(2) for food production (Nakamura, 1961) and (3) in sewage treat
ment (Oswald et aI, 1957). All of these are aimed at higher pro
ductivity of cellular material itself. For obtaining maximum cell
concentration in the shortest time high growth rates are required.
In photoautotrophy, use of thin aqueous layers of suspensions is
required in order that light will be effective in reaching the
entire culture. Such systems require large surface areas which
are not always spatially economic, although this may be partially
overcome by good mixing. In heterotrophy, even if light is pro
vided, it is not the sole source of energy, thus it is easier to
achieve maximum cell contact with both energy sources with a net
result in greater productivity.
The approach to heterotrophic culture of algae for practical
interest is still relatively new. The prime objective is to
increase productivity by using cheap substrates such as plant and
animal residues or industrial organic wastes. Very little infor
mation is available on commercial processes. For example, the
processes involved in producing xanthophylls are still under the
veil of patents and production information is lacking.
Whether photoheterotrophic culture of algae will contribute
to the space program is not known but as man probes further into
space, it can be expected to increase. Algae which are able to
oxidize or reduce organic matters depending upon the energy source
may be used for (1) to remove the organic materials from waste,
(2) to remove and produce CO2 and 02 and (3) as a source of food.
Algae Able to Grow Heterotrophically
Algal isolates which have been most intensively studied for
heterotrophic culture are those of the green algae such as
Chlorella and Scenedesmus, blue-green algae and other miscellaneous
cultures of algae.
HETEROTROPHIC GROWTH OF ALGAE 3
Ch1ore11a. Even in the early work of Beijerinck (1898), it
was known that Ch1ore11a could be grown in the dark with glucose
as the organic substrate. In 1927, Emerson observed Ch1ore11a
cells growing in a medium containing glucose. Under these condi
tions cells possessed a respiration rate about four times that of
light grown cells. MOre recently oxidative assimilation has been
f.
observed for pyrenoidosa on acetate and glucose (Myers, 1947;
Myers et a1, 1949); on glucose, galactose and acetate (Samejima
f.
et a1, 1958); and for e11ipsoidea on acetate (Fujita, 1959).
Cells grown in dark assimilated about 49% of the glucose carbon
(Myers et a1, 1949) while Samejima et a1 (1958) reported the car
bon assimilation was 45% for glucose, 37% for galactose and 26%
f.
for acetate. In another species e1lipsoidea, Fujita reported
carbon assimilation to be as high as 80% for acetate.
In studies of the heterotrophic nutrition of C. vulgaris
Griffiths (1960) reported much higher rates of growth and respira
tion on glucose than with other organic substrates.
f.
In the studies of xanthophy1 production by pyrenoidosa,
Theriault (1965) reported glucose, fructose and galactose were
readily assimilated.
Glycocoll, which has no value as carbon source for Ch1ore1la,
f.
is a good source of nitrogen for vulgaris (Algeus, 1948b).
Utilization is preceded by deamination and release of ammonia to
the medium. Further metabolism of the ammonia is quite rapid in
the presence of carbon dioxide and light.
In a recent study on organic nitrogen utilization by Griffiths
(1967) peptone was found more effective than nitrate for hetero
f.
trophic culture of vulgaris (Emerson strain). It allows the
production of an increased amount of cellular material and supports
an enhanced rate of cell division.
Scenedesmus. In the studies of oxidative assimilation, Taylor
(1950) found that 80-90% of the glucose carbon was assimilated by
~. quadricauda. Mannose is also utilized, but is an inferior sub
strate compared to glucose. ~. ob1iquus utilizes glucose, cell
obiose and acetate. Glucose added in the presence of light was
found to be most satisfactory for growth (Dvorakova-H1adka, 1966).
As a source of organic nitrogen, glycocoll was the most satisfactory
substrate tested for~. ob1iquus (A1geus, 1948a). Alanine was
inferior to glycocoll (Algeus, 1949).
Other green algae. Prototheca, the colorless counterpart of
Chlore1la, has been studied by Barker (1935, 1936) and Anderson
(1945). Barker reported~. zopfii is unable to grow in the absence
of an organic nitrogen source such as yeast auto1yzate. For carbon
sources, conventional monosaccharides, lower fatty acids and simple