The influence of varying concentrations of CO₂ on the buildup of carbohydrates in microalgae biomass

¹ International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, Dubai, 14660, United Arab Emirates
² Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
³ Ecology Research Institute, Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University, Turkistan, 161200, Kazakhstan
⁴ Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, 050038, Kazakhstan

^* Corresponding author: sarsekeyeva83@mail.ru

Abstract

Microalgae have gained popularity over the century due to their numerous intrinsic properties superior to higher plants, making them a potential target and feedstock for the development of biotechnological products in various fields. The storage of carbohydrates within microalgae cells positions them as a promising reservoir for biofuel production and a range of other valuable bioproducts, encompassing biological compounds, nutritional supplements, and more. Key determinants influencing microalgae carbohydrate levels comprise nutrient availability, light intensity, temperature, and CO₂ concentrations. In this context, the CO₂ concentration plays a key role, as it is one of the main factors influencing the photosynthetic processes. This study aimed to explore the impact of different CO₂ concentrations on the carbohydrate profile of biomass sourced from Chlorella vulgaris sp. BB-2 and Scenedesmus quadicauda B-1. The findings revealed that a CO₂ concentration of 2% v/v notably enhanced carbohydrate accumulation, reaching 75.5% for Chlorella vulgaris sp. BB-2 and 72.0% for Scenedesmus quadicauda B-1.