Production of <i>Spirulina platensis</i> Using Inexpensive Local Resources in Palestine

Abstract

Spirulina platensis is a special and unique cyanobacteria that is produced worldwide with a varied cost of cultivation media. In this study, five main experiments with different treatments were performed to evaluate the possibility of using cheap aquaculture water for Spirulina production, to test if solutions made by plant ash (PAS) could be used for Spirulina production, to determine if brackish water (BW) and mining water have a good impact on Spirulina production, to create a medium composed of cheap chemicals and fertilizers to be used for Spirulina cultivation, and to test if a mixture made from local components could be used to produce Spirulina. All experiments were performed via growth and dry weight measurements, including determination of chemical and physical characteristics of the samples with a comparison with Zarrouk medium (ZM) as a reference for each experiment, and all experiments were performed for 21 days to determine the best media type that lasts longer for commercial purposes. In all experiments, pH values were between 8 and 11, and EC was between 9.8 and 30 ms/cm, while temperature was at 30&deg;C and 35&deg;C, and light was at 1500 and 5000 Lux for 16 h light and 8 h dark. Spirulina can grow in (FW). It can also grow in FW diluted with BW. Also a 3% PAS can be used as a source to cultivate Spirulina at a very low price compared to ZM. The chemical fertilizer formula was one of the best types among all treatments with a good price. A mixture of these local resources could be a very good cheap alternative source. The main result that was obtained from all experiments in this study is the ability of Spirulina to grow within a wide range of chemical parameters at a lower price.