Pilot production and utilization of Spirulina: optimization and economic feasibility studies
1987
Zafaralla, M.T.
The study sought to mass produce Spirulina at the lowest cost and find a cost-effective way to use the product. Open pond cultures of Spirulina were set up every month from Jan to Dec 1987. Productivity was highest during the months of Sep and Oct with yield of 0.06 g/L/day; lowest productivity was observed in Mar at 0.022 g/L/day. Production cost ranged from P56 to P923/kg. Laboratory experiments involving the determination of optimum condition for the growth of Spirulina in Agawa medium showed that the alga can be grown optimally at pH 9.5; 1.3 ppt. NaNO3, 0.5 ppt. K2HPO4 and 12 ppt. NaHCO3. Chemical, microbiological, and toxicity tests were carried out on air-dried class A and D samples. Class A had a crude protein content (CP) of 46.9%; Class D had 30.6% CP. Spirulina contains the essential amino acids although of a lower composition than FAO reference protein. Non-protein nitrogen were 6.28 and 0.50%, respectively, for class A and D. Air-dried Spirulina had bacterial and fungal counts of 78 X 10 to the fourth power CFU/g and 1.0 CFU/g, respectively. Qualitative examination revealed the presence of coliform and coagulase negative Staphylococcus spp. Proper processing method should be employed on the samples to get rid of these types of microorganism. Heavy metal content was within the allowable limit. No detectable levels of aflatoxin were found in the samples. Preliminary studies indicated that fish grew better in Spirulina-supplemented diet if the level added was not in excess of 25% of the ratio (weight basis). The cost of the diet was lower by 13% than that of the unsupplemented commercial feed.
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