(238a) Porphyridium cruentum Grown on Swine Waste has Minimal Changes to its Fatty Acid Composition

Title:

Porphyridium cruentum
Grown on Swine Waste Has Minimal Changes to Its Fatty Acid Composition

Authors:

Humeyra B. Ulusoy-Erol¹, Mariana Lara Menegazzo², Emily Gottberg¹, Jessica Vaden¹,
Maryam Asgharpour¹, Christa N. Hestekin¹, and Jamie A.
Hestekin¹

¹
Ralph
E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Arkansas,
Fayetteville,

AR,
United States.

² Department of
Engineering, Federal University of Grande Dourados, Dourados, MS, Brazil.

Phone
number: +1 479 575 3492; Fax number: +1 479 575 7926

Abstract

Environmental problems like eutrophication
due to wastewater are becoming more significant because of the dramatic
increase in the population. Microalgae are considered one of the best
alternatives for wastewater treatment processes due to their significant uptake
mechanism for nitrogen and phosphorus as well as the ability to grow in
different water types. Porphyridium (P.) cruentum
which is a red algae and an important source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
can be grown in different types of water. P.
cruentum grown on swine waste were found to have no
statistical differences in terms of the biomass productivity and fatty acid
methyl ester (FAME) composition compared to a control media. In fact, P. cruentum
yielded a higher percentage of saturated fatty acids compared to unsaturated
fatty acids when grown on swine waste indicating that it would also have
potential to be used as a biofuel.