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Production of exopolymer substances from the thermophilic chlorophyte Graesiella: industrial and ecological applications

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Abstract

Microalgal extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) are heteropolysaccharides that have characteristics suitable for industrial and biotechnological applications. Notably, they have strong anionic nature and high hydrophobicity. Nevertheless, systematic studies to demonstrate the viability of the production of EPSs on an industrial scale are still crucial. In this research, the chlorophyte Graesiella was grown on a raceway pond to view its EPS valorization. The biomass production achieved a maximum of 1.98 g L−1 and an EPS production of 1.6 g L−1 after six production days. The Graesiella EPSs with a molecular weight above 100 kDa are sulfated exopolymers containing mainly polysaccharide (70%) and protein (16%). The EPSs produced more stable emulsions with hydrocarbons and oils than Tween-20. The emulsification indices with n-hexane (88%) and maize oil (28%) indicate the EPSs’ strong emulsion-stabilizing capacity. The EPSs showed a peak flocculating percentage of 95% to kaolin suspension, with better flocculation performance than Al2(SO4)3 and alginate. Moreover, Graesiella EPSs had a significant effect on antimicrobial activity, significantly inhibiting fungal growth (71% for Botytis cinerea and 87% for Fusarium oxysporum), spore germination (100% of inhibition at a concentration of 1.8 g L−1), and mycelium growth (68% of inhibition). Also, Graesiella EPSs acted as a bactericide against Vibrio anguilaruim and Listonella anguilaruim (100% inhibition). EPSs were also found to have potent antioxidant activity compared with l-ascorbic acid. The obtained results open new perspectives to the further exploration of Graesiella sp. as a potential EPS producer, making it a promising candidate for numerous industrial applications.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Institute of Sciences and Technology of Tunisia and the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. N. Cordeiro and JLG Pinchetti thanks the European Territorial Cooperation Programme PCT-MAC 2014-2020 through project REBECA-CCT (MAC/1.1.B/269). The authors thank Professor Sadok Saloua and Professor Daniel Montero for their help and support during the entire research period.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Blue Biotechnology & Aquatic Bioproducts, National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia

    Wejdene Gongi & Hatem Ben Ouada

  2. National Institute of Agronomy, University of Carthage, 1082, Tunis, Tunisia

    Wejdene Gongi

  3. LB3-Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Madeira, 9020-105, Funchal, Portugal

    Nereida Cordeiro

  4. CIIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, 4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal

    Nereida Cordeiro

  5. BEA-Spanish Bank of Algae, Institute of Oceanography and Global Change (IOCAG), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Muelle de Taliarte s/n, 35214, Telde, Canary Islands, Spain

    Juan Luis Gómez Pinchetti

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  1. Wejdene Gongi
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  2. Nereida Cordeiro
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  3. Juan Luis Gómez Pinchetti
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Gongi, W., Cordeiro, N., Pinchetti, J.L.G. et al. Production of exopolymer substances from the thermophilic chlorophyte Graesiella: industrial and ecological applications. J Appl Phycol 33, 343–356 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-020-02299-7

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