Development and validation of a minimal growth medium for recycling Chlorella vulgaris culture.

Abstract When microalgae culture medium is recycled, ions (e.g. Na + , K + , Ca 2+ ) that were not assimilated by the microalgae accumulate in the medium. Therefore, a growth medium (HAMGM) was developed that included ions that were more easily assimilated by Chlorella vulgaris , such as ammonium one (NH 4 + ). Recycling performance was studied by carrying out 8-week continuous cultivation of C. vulgaris with recycled HAMGM medium. No loss of biomass productivity was observed compared to culture in a conventional medium, and accumulation of ions over time was negligible.