PRODUCCIÓN DE BIOMASA DE MICROALGA POR CULTIVO MIXOTRÓFICO USANDO SUERO DE QUESO COMO FUENTE DE CARBONO ALTERNATIVA.

The objective of this work was to prove the microalgae biomass production using cheese whey as a carbon source. Mixotrophic cultivation was implemented with whey from curd production, and it was compared with cultivation using wastewater and foliar fertilizer, in similar conditions. The microalgae consortium was obtained from wastewater, the predominant species are Desmodesmus maximus and Chlorella vulgaris and one cyanobacteria (Planktothrix pseudoagardii), the biomass growth was measured by optical density at 685nm, and the content of oil, protein, humidity, and ash was characterized. It was found that the cultivation with cheese whey had higher cell density and better productivities of protein and oil than the cultivation with other substrates. Moreover, it was determined that the maximum cheese whey concentration, which microalgae can grow into, is 5% v/v. The effluent used comes from a real cheese production process, which shows that effluents from the dairy industry can be an ideal substrate to produce biomass, increasing the value chain of this industry, and minimizing its environmental impact. At the same time, it can reduce the supplies consumption for microalgae growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]