Effect of Iron Concentration on the Co-Production of Fucoxanthin and Fatty Acids in Conticribra weissflogii
Ke Peng, David Kwame Amenorfenyo, Xiangyu Rui, Xianghu Huang, Changling Li, Feng Li
Abstract
The production of fucoxanthin and fatty acids in Conticribra weissflogii has been examined, but there is still a lack of understanding regarding the impact of trace elements, including iron, on their co-production. To address this knowledge gap, this study investigated the effects of FeCl3·6H2O on the growth, fucoxanthin, and fatty acids of C. weissflogii. The findings revealed that the highest cell density (1.9 × 106 cells mL−1), cell dry weight (0.89 ± 0.15 g L−1), and total fatty acid concentration (83,318.13 µg g−1) were achieved at an iron concentration of 15.75 mg L−1, while the maximum carotenoid and fucoxanthin contents were obtained at an iron concentration of 3.15 mg L−1. The study demonstrated that the content of the active substance in C. weissflogii could be increased by adjusting the iron concentration, providing new information as to the more efficient co-production of fucoxanthin and fatty acids and offering experimental support for large-scale production.