Abstract

This paper reports the effects of different culture conditions for Dunaliella salina SA32007 from Salar de Atacama (second Region, northern of Chile) over biomass, lipid production and triglycerides synthesis. A maximum value of microalgae density (8.2 × 109Cells/L) and an intrinsic growth rate (0.17 d-1), were obtained using a culture with 0.5 mol/L of NaCl and a nitrogen/phosphorous (N/P) limitation of 14/1. The triglycerides production was significantly favoured under nitrogen deficiency conditions (Mann-Whitney test; p = 0.0043). However there was a nitrogen-limiting threshold for the stimulation and accumulation of triglycerides (N/P: 14/1), lower than that limit, these compounds would not be accumulated. It was also observed that triglyceride content was not proportional to the total lipid content and the maximum number of cells. The aeration system employed stimulate the growth and synthesis of structural organic molecules. Regarding microalgae growth stage subjected to nitrogen deficiency, when the deficit was applied before the lag phase, the negative effect on the biomass and the triglycerides production decreased.