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Characterization of Spirulina biomass for CELSS diet potentialSpirulina sp. as a bioregenerative photosynthetic and an edible alga for space craft crew in a CELSS, was characterized for growth rate and biomass yield in batch cultures, under various environmental conditions. The cell characteristics were identified for two strains of Spirulina: S. maxima and S. plantensis. Fast growth rate and high yield of both strains were obtained under the following conditions: temperature (30 to 35 C), light irradiance (60 to 100 uE/m/s), nitrate (30 mM), phosphate (2 mM), aeration (300 ml/min), and ph (9 to 10). The partitioning of the assimalatory products (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids) were manipulated by varying the environmental growth conditions. The experiments with Spirulina demonstrated that under stress conditions (high light 120 uE/m/s, temperature 38 C, nitrogen or phosphate limitation; 0.1 M sodium chloride) carbohydrate increased at the expense of protein. In other experiments, where the growth media were sufficient in nutrients and incubated under optimum growth conditions, the total proteins were increased up to almost 70 percent of the organic weight. Conclusion: The nutritional quality of the alga could be manipulated by growth conditions, and therefore usful as a subsystem in CELSS.
Document ID
19890016190
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Tadros, Mahasin G.
(Alabama A & M Univ. Normal, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1988
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Report/Patent Number
NASA-CR-185329
NAS 1.26:185329
Accession Number
89N25561
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NCC2-501
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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