Integrated Process for Red Algae Culturing and Processing High Value Algal Products: EPS & CPS, B-PE and PUFAs

The global demand for algae and algal products are increasing over years. However, the cost for current commercial processing and purifying of algae products for good biological activities is quite high. This project aims to develop an integrated process to increase the Exopolysaccharide (EPS) and Capsular polysaccharide (CPS) yield and produce other high value co-products (B-phycoerythrin(B-PE), and poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)) from red algae. The two-state culture process with white and green light is promising for high yield of EPS. The EPS is successful extracted by the acid precipitate method for commercial algae water. The enzyme-based extraction with the combination of alpha- and gluco-amylase enzyme yield much more B-PE compared to other reported methods. PUFA extraction by low-cost solvent helps reduce the production cost and promises for recycle of the water. This integrated process is not only promising to produce algal products at low cost but also recycle processing water for subsequent algae cultivation benefiting environment.