Optimization studies of biomass production and protein biosynthesis in a Spirulina sp. isolated from an oilpolluted flame pit in the Niger Delta

Using a modification of the Bangladesh 3 medium, dose response analysis was carried out to evaluate the effect of certain parameters on biomass production and protein biosynthesis in a Spirulina sp.isolated from an oil-polluted flame pit. A set of conditions described as optimized was compared with another set of conditions described as normal. The optimized parameters include pH 9.0, temperature30oC, 0.30 mg/L SO4-2, 0.008 mg/L P043-, 2.0 g/L HC03-, 25 mg/L N032-, 1.0% Cl- and light intensity 15 ìEm-2s-1. Agitation was achieved through aeration using an aquarium pump to supply air at ca 150 bubbles min-1. Biomass and protein produced were significantly (P = 0.05) higher in the optimized than in thenormal condition; that is, biomass and protein produced in optimized condition were 22.7 and 25.8%, respectively, higher than those produced in normal growth condition. The total amino acidconcentration in optimized condition was 58.7% higher than in normal conditions. These results show that cultivating the Spirulina species at these optimized environmental conditions could significantlyimprove biomass yield and protein synthesis in the organism