Biochemical characterization of Phaeodactylum tricornutum for microalgae-based biorefinery

For biotechnological purposes, it is important to determine biochemical composition of microalgae biomass, for correctly addressing the valorization of the high-value compounds produced and enhancing the economic feasibility of the cultivation process. This study aims to analyze the biochemical composition of P. tricornutum cultivated at an outdoor pilot-scale bubble column photobioreactor under natural conditions in Chile, for biofuel and high-value compounds production in order to propose a P. tricronutum based biorefinery. The P. tricornutum biomass concentration is about 0.96 kg.m(-3).d(-1) with volumetric productivity of 0.13 kg.m(-3).d(-1). The samples showed a proportion of 7.85 wt% of carbohydrates, 38.40 wt% of proteins and 9.08 wt% of lipids. These findings suggest that P. tricornutum can be an alternative feedstock for biofuels production and high-value compounds commercialization, under a biorefinery approach. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.