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Effect of n-dodecane on Crypthecodinium cohnii fermentations and DHA production

  • Original Paper
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Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology

Abstract

The potential use of n-dodecane as an oxygen vector for enhancement of Crypthecodinium cohnii growth and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) production was studied. The volumetric fraction of oxygen vector influenced the gas–liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficient k L a positively. The k L a increased almost linearly with the increase of volumetric fraction of n-dodecane up to 1%. The stirring rate showed a higher influence on the k L a than the aeration rate. The effects of this hydrocarbon on C. cohnii growth and DHA production were then investigated. A control batch fermentation without n-dodecane addition (CF) and a batch fermentation where n-dodecane 1% (v/v) was added (DF) were carried out simultaneously under the same experimental conditions. It was found that, before 86.7 h of fermentation, the biomass concentration, the specific growth rate, the DHA, and total fatty acids (TFA) production were higher in the CF. After this fermentation time, the biomass concentration, the DHA and TFA production were higher in the DF. The highest DHA content of biomass (6.14%), DHA percentage of TFA (51%), and DHA production volumetric rate r DHA (9.75 mg l−1 h−1) were obtained at the end of the fermentation with n-dodecane (135.2 h). The dissolved oxygen tension (DOT) was always higher in the DF, indicating a better oxygen transfer due to the oxygen vector presence. However, since the other C. cohnii unsaturated fatty acids percentages did not increase with the oxygen availability increase due to the n-dodecane presence, a desaturase oxygen-dependent mechanism involved in the C. cohnii DHA biosynthesis was not considered to explain the DHA production increase. A selective extraction through the n-dodecane was suggested.

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Abbreviations

CF:

Control batch fermentation without n-dodecane

CSTR:

Continuous stirred tank reactor

DF:

Batch fermentation with n-dodecane 1% (v/v)

DHA:

Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6ω3)

DOT:

Dissolved oxygen tension

DPM:

Dynamic pressure method

k L a :

Gas–liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficient (h−1)

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acids

TAG:

Triacylglycerols

TFA:

Total fatty acids

r DHA :

DHA production volumetric rate (g l−1 h−1)

rpm:

Rotations per minute

r TFA :

TFA production volumetric rate (g l−1 h−1)

vvm:

Volume of gas per volume of aerated liquid per minute

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Acknowledgements

The work was carried out with the support of FEDER funds, as a part of a study within the SAPIENS project POCTI/EQU/47689/2002 entitled “Enhancement of bubble and drop mass transfer processes using additives”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Nacional de Engenharia, Tecnologia e Inovação, Departamento de Biotecnologia, Unidade de Bioengenharia e Bioprocessos, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038, Lisboa, Portugal

    Teresa Lopes da Silva, Ana Mendes, Vítor Calado & Alberto Reis

  2. Instituto Nacional de Engenharia, Tecnologia e Inovação, Departamento de Energias Renováveis, Unidade de Biomassa, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038, Lisboa, Portugal

    Rui L. Mendes

  3. Instituto Superior Técnico, Departamento de Engenharia Química e Biológica, Centro de Engenharia Biológica e Química, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal

    Sebastião S. Alves & Jorge M. T. Vasconcelos

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  1. Teresa Lopes da Silva
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Correspondence to Alberto Reis.

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Silva, T.L.d., Mendes, A., Mendes, R.L. et al. Effect of n-dodecane on Crypthecodinium cohnii fermentations and DHA production. J IND MICROBIOL BIOTECHNOL 33, 408–416 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-006-0081-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-006-0081-8

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