Optimization of the production of docosahexaenoic fatty acid by the heterotrophic microalga Crypthecodinium cohnii utilizing a dark fermentation effluent

Dark fermentation is an anaerobic digestion process of biowaste, used to produce hydrogen as a fuel, which however releases high amounts of polluting volatile fatty acids in the environment. In order for the process to become more competitive, the acids stream can be utilized through conversion to high added-value docosahexaenoic acid by the microalga Crypthecodinium cohnii. Docosahexaenoic acid is one of the two main omega-3 fatty acids, necessary for human nutrition. The purpose of this work was to optimize the production of omega-3 fatty acids by the cells, utilizing the organic content of a dark fermentation effluent. For that purpose, the effect of different fermentation conditions was examined, such as incubation temperature, nitrogen source and concentration, the addition of chemical modulators, as well as the feeding composition. The volatile fatty acid content of the effluent was totally depleted in a fed-batch culture of the microalga, while the cells accumulated DHA in a percentage of 35.6% of total lipids, when fed with yeast extract or 34.2% when fed with ammonium sulfate. Taking into consideration the economic feasibility of the culture conditions proposed it was concluded that the use of yeast extract could be substituted by the much economic ammonium sulfate.