Effects of Carbon Sources on the Production of Astaxanthin by Chlorella zofingiensis in the Dark

Abstract:

This paper investigated the effects of carbon sources on the growth of Chlorella zofingiensis and the production of astaxanthin. The result showed that the concentration of 20g/L was beneficial to the growth of Chlorella zofingiensis, but on the this concentration biomass and astaxanthin content was low; on the concentration of 50g/L, the growth is slower, but biomass and astaxanthin content was high . Among the three carbon sources investigated , sucrose and glucose were more beneficial to growth and production of astaxanthin than fructose. When 50g/L sucrose was used , the astaxanthin content and astaxanthin yield was 0.94 mg/g and 9.61 mg/L respectively.

Key words:Chlorella zofingiensis, Carbon source, Astaxanthin