Optimization of environmental factors using RSM for Spirulina platensis cultivation

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to optimize the environmental growth factors for maximum yield of biomass and protein content of Spirulina platensis var lonor. Design/methodology/approach Central composite design with four independent variables (namely, Temperature (°C), Light intensity (μmol m−2 s−1), incubation period (days) and inoculum concentration (per cent)) and two dependent variables (namely, Biomass yield (g/L) and Protein content (per cent)) were used for designing the experiment. The quadratic model was selected for analysis of data using analysis of variance and optimization was performed using response surface methodology (RSM). Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) medium was used for growing the organisms. Findings The predicted values of optimization showed that the maximum yield of dried biomass (1.13 g/L) and protein (57.45 per cent) were obtained at temperature of 33.6°C, light intensity of 67.50 μmol m−2 s−1, incubation period of 16 days and inoculum concentration of 20 per cent. The actual values of biomass (1.23 g/L) and protein (58.46 per cent) yield were almost similar to the predicted responses. Practical implications The data obtained with this optimization method help Spirulina researchers/producers to cultivate the S. platensis var lonor strain with maximum biomass and protein content using the CFTRI medium. Originality/value Earlier works on optimization of growth conditions for Spirulina biomass, revealed that maximum of two factors were employed at a time using factorial design. But unlike other studies here in this study, optimization of multi factors using at a time using RSM on better biomass and protein yield was employed.