Date of Award
12-2019
Culminating Project Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Biological Sciences - Ecology and Natural Resources: M.S.
Department
Biology
College
College of Science and Engineering
First Advisor
Matthew Julius
Second Advisor
Ryan Fink
Third Advisor
Debra Japp
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
Algae Cultivation; Omega-3 Supplements; Cyclotella meneghiniana; Commercial photobioreactor
Abstract
Omega-3 fatty acid supplements derived from algal oil are a fast-growing nutraceutical product because they provide an alternative to fish-meal based oil; they are sustainable, economically viable, and appeal to a wider consumer market. There are many factors that have been shown to affect the fatty acid profiles of algae: environmental stressors, nutrient availability, and temporal cycles. This thesis explores the effects of temporal culture dynamics on the fatty acid profiles of Cyclotella meneghiniana in both small-scale and large-scale growth models. these results can be used to develop a strategic growth model for the optimization of Omega-3 product yield in a commercial scale algal growth facility. A market assessment of the quality and consistency of current algal omega-3 supplements was completed to identify possible challenges of a commercial algal based product. Maximizing the lipid content and optimizing the fatty acid profiles will have a significant impact on the quantity, quality, and profitability of these products.
Recommended Citation
Dvorak, DeAnna, "Understanding Mass Culture Dynamics to Maximize Production and Quality of Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acid Commercial Algal Cultivation" (2019). Culminating Projects in Biology. 45.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/biol_etds/45
