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WELCOME

Nostoc pruniformehttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NostocPruniforme1.jpg

Commercial Applications of Microalgae

Lâm Tấn Hào (3112459)Lý Hoàng Tuấn (3112573)

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Outline

Chemical Composition of Microalgae Microalgae in Human and Animal

Nutrition Microalgae in Cosmetics Microalgal High-value Molecules

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Chemical Composition of Microalgae

Microalgae

Proteins

Carbohydrates

Lipids

Vitamins

Pigments

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Proteins

High content of proteins Able to synthesize all amino acids An unconventional source of proteins

Conventional Foods

Microalgal species

Meat: 43% Chlorella vulgaris: 51%58%

Soybean: 37% Spirulina maxima: 60%71%

The % of protein in dry mass of some human food sources and some algae

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Carbohydrates

Variable forms: Starch Glucoses Sugars Other polysaccharides

Highly digestible

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Lipids

3 and 6: particular interest Content is affected by nutritional &

environmental factors.

Glycerol Sugars Bases

Unsaturated &

Saturated fatty acids

Microalgal lipids

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Vitamins

A valuable source of nearly all vitamins

Improve nutritional value Content depends on:

Environmental factors Harvesting treatment Methods of drying cells

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Pigments

Rich in pigments: Chlorophyll Carotenoids Phycobiliproteins

Wide applications

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Analysis of Microalgae

Prior to commercialization Detect toxicity of:

Nucleic acids Heavy metal ions Other toxins

prove harmlessness International recommendations

Human nutrition:

dominated by 4 strains

Arthrospirancma.bigelow.org/node/1/strain/CCMP1295

Chlorellaccala.butbn.cas.cz/

Dunaliella salinaccala.butbn.cas.cz/

Aphanizomenon flos-aquaehttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aphanizomenon_flos-aquae.jpeg

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Arthrospira

2 main species: Arthrospira plantesis Arthrospira maxima

High protein content Excellent nutritive value Health promoting effects Significant production countries:

China, India, USA

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Arthrospira production plants

Largest plant (~ 450k m2)

Products: distributed > 20 countries

Advanced process for drying biomass

Avoid oxidation of vitamins & fatty acids

Cyanotech microalgal production plant (Hawaii, USA)cyanotech.com/company/facility.html

Earthrise Farm Arthrospira production plant (California, USA)algalprofessionals.com/about.html

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Marketable Forms of Microalgae

Dietary supplement (Spirulina) Made from 2 main species of Arthrospirahttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Spirulina

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Marketable Forms of Microalgae

Foods & drinks that are derived from microalgaedesignboom.com/technology/

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Animal nutrition

Animal nutrition

Aquaculture

Coloring

Larval nutrition

Improvement of cultural medium

Pets and Farming

Enhancement of physiology

Improvement of appearance

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Aquaculture (Coloring)

Carotenoid pigments: Coloring the flesh of fish (Japan &

Canada) Coloring the gills of oysters (France)

Increase product market value

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Aquaculture (Larval Nutrition)

Direct/Indirect consumption Required criteria:

Easily cultured Nontoxic Digestible cell wall High nutritional quality:

• Determined by protein & vitamin contents, and the ratio of unsaturated fatty acids

Mixing species of microalgae balanced nutrition

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Aquaculture (Medium Improvement)

Microalgae help stabilize and improve cultural medium: “green-water” technique.

Better results of freshwater and marine animals

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Aquaculture

Current trend: avoiding using microalgae High cost Difficulty in producing, harvesting &

storing Alternatives have been develop, but

are not advanced enough to be widely applied.

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Pets and farming

Applied on many types of animal Positively affect animal physiology:

Improved immune response & fertility Better weight control

Enhance external appearance: Healthy skin & Lustrous coat

Prolong feedings at high concentration may lead to adverse effects.

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Microalgae in Cosmetics

Some cosmetic products containing micoalgal extractmicrolifecosmetics.com

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Microalgae in Cosmetics

Microalgae in

Cosmetics

Arthrospira

Protulines (Exsymol SAM, Moncaco: Repair early skin aging Tightening effect Prevent stria

Chlorella

Dermochlorella (Codif, St. Malo, France):Stimulate collagen synthesis

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High-value molecules

High value

molecules

Fatty acids

PigmentsCarotenoids

Phycobiliproteins

Stable isotope biochemicals

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Fatty acids

Higher plants & animals: can not synthesize polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) >18 carbons

Fish & fish oil: PUFA common sources Limited in application

Microalgae: potential alternative sources of PUFAs:

DHA, GLA, AA, EPA

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The PUFA DHA

The only commercially available algal PUFA

Play a key role in human health

O

OH

The 3 fatty acid DHA(docosahexanoic acid)

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The PUFA DHA

World market (infant formula): ~$10 bil/year.

Martek (USA): major producer of algal DHA Martek’s DHA Oil (DHASCO): Exploit Crypthecodinium cohnii Heterotrophic process meeting strict

conditions Production in 2003: 240t Available in >60 countries Use in infant formula

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The PUFA DHA

Another product by Martek: DHA Gold Extracted from Schizochytrium Use in adult diet supplementary +

animal feeds

Some of Martek’s products containing DHA oilmtechumd.wordpress.com

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Pigment (Carotenoids)

β-carotene, astaxanthin: most used commercially: Food colorant + additives Cosmetics Therapeutic effects

Natural forms are preferred to synthetic one.

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β-carotene

Major producer: Cognis Nutrition and Health Price:

US$ 300 US$ 3000/kg

Three categories:• β-carotene extracts• Powder human use• Dried Dunaliella

animal feed use.

Dunaliella salina- Up to 14% of β-carotene in dry massccala.butbn.cas.cz/

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Astaxanthin

Mainly consumed by the salmon feed industry.

Price: US$ 2,500/kg

Haematococcus pluvialis: a rich source of astaxanthin enhance red and yellow pattern of carp (Japan & Canada)http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mikrofoto.de-Blutregenalgen_3.jpg

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Pigments (Phycobiliproteins)

Mainly obtained from: Arthrospira Porphyridium (Rhodophyta – “red

algae”) Major applications:

Natural dyes for food Cosmetics Fluorescent markers

Price: US$ 3 US$ 1500/mg

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Stable isotope biochemicals

Photosynthesis incorporate stable isotopes to biochemicals from inorganic molecules

Applications: Determine structures at atomic level Metabolic studies of labeled compounds

Very high price

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Conclusion

Wide commercial applications of microalgae: Human & Animal nutrition Cosmetics Production of high-value molecules

Microalgae are not well-studied. Production systems need to be improved. Promising aspects:

Utilization of genetic modified strains Pharmaceutical applications

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Thank youfor your kind attention!