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Microalgae Biochemical Characteristics

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Microalgae are the microscopic unicellular organisms. Through the process of photosynthesis they are capable of converting the solar energy into chemical energy. They contain several bioactive compounds that can be utilized for commercial use. The marine microalgae in particular have unique biochemical characteristics that are not found in higher plants. The microalgae are usually cultivated in open ponds or photobioreactors systems. The cultivation process requires a suitable amount of carbon dioxide, light, water and other nutrients, which are essential to facilitate the photosynthetic process. Microalgal cultivation produces the biomass containing high-value consumer products and simultaneously captures the greenhouse gas CO2. (Rasmussen …show more content…

In addition, the carotenoid compositions of some cyanobacteria are very different from those of chloroplasts in algae. Therefore, during the symbiosis of cyanobacteria to eukaryotic cells, carotenoids might be remarkably reshuffled. (Takaichi, 2011).
Chlorella, Nostoc, Spirulina and have been used as food since ancient times. Due to the original chemical composition of microalgae (high protein content, with balanced amino acids ratio, essential minerals, carotenoids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, polysaccharides, carotenoids, phycobilins and other biologically active compounds), their biomass has extremely high nutritional value and health benefits (Batista et al., 2013). The application of use of micro algal biomass and metabolites for obtaining healthy food and food supplements (nutraceuticals) is a contemporary approach. (Sousa et al., …show more content…

Algae are the typical organisms that serve as a natural food for many animals in aquafarming and it is not surprising that they are considered the best food source for production of bivalve molluscs (oysters, scallops and mussels), crustaceans and some fish species and for zooplankton, used in aquaculture food chain. The most frequently used species in aquafarming are Isochrysis galbana, Pavlova lutheri, Chaetoceros calcitrans, Skeletonema costatum, Tetraselmis suecica and Pseudoisochrysis paradoxa. Other genera include Spirulina, Chlorella, Dunaliella, Isochrysis, Thalassiosira and Nannochloropsis (Guedes and Malcata, 2012). Some algae (e.g.Spirulina, Chlorella, Haematococcus, Scenedesmus, Tetraselmis) are suitable healthy food for both aquatic and terrestrial animals (Harel et al.,

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