Microalgae Biomass Production from Rice Husk as Alternative Media Cultivation and Extraction of Phycocyanin Using...

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Food Science
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• Phycocyanin from Spirulina platensis is a valuable pigment with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties for food applications.
• Biorefinery concepts emphasize utilizing biomass resources efficiently.
• Sustainable cultivation and extraction methods are crucial for phycocyanin production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate rice husk extract as a novel culture medium for Spirulina platensis biomass.
• To develop and optimize phycocyanin extraction from S. platensis using ohmic heating.
• To integrate sustainable cultivation and extraction into biorefinery frameworks.

Main Methods:

• Cultivation of Spirulina platensis in varying concentrations of rice husk extract (RHE).
• Design and utilization of a 3D-printed reactor for ohmic heating extraction.
• Optimization of ohmic heating parameters (time, temperature, pH) using a central composite rotatable design (CCDR).

Main Results:

• Achieved maximum microalgal biomass of 1.75 ± 0.01 g/L and a specific growth rate of 0.125 ± 0.01 h⁻¹ in RHE.
• Optimized ohmic heating yielded a high phycocyanin content of 75.80 ± 0.98 mg/g.
• Demonstrated the efficacy of rice husk as a cost-effective growth medium.

Conclusions:

• Rice husk extract is a viable alternative medium for Spirulina platensis cultivation.
• Ohmic heating provides a rapid and efficient method for phycocyanin extraction.
• This approach supports the integration of microalgal biomass into second- and third-generation biorefineries.