A Two-Stage Culture Strategy for Scenedesmus sp. FSP3 for CO(2) Fixation and the Simultaneous Production of Lutein under Light and Salt Stress

In this study, Scenedesmus sp. FSP3 was cultured using a two-stage culture strategy for CO(2) fixation and lutein production. During the first stage, propylene carbonate was added to the medium, with 5% CO(2) introduced to promote the rapid growth and CO(2) fixation of the microalgae. During the second stage of cultivation, a NaCl concentration of 156 mmol L(−1) and a light intensity of 160 μmol m(−2) s(−1) were used to stimulate the accumulation of lutein in the microalgal cells. By using this culture method, high lutein production and CO(2) fixation were simultaneously achieved. The biomass productivity and carbon fixation rate of Scenedesmus sp. FSP3 reached 0.58 g L(−1) d(−1) and 1.09 g L(−1) d(−1), with a lutein content and yield as high as 6.45 mg g(−1) and 2.30 mg L(−1) d(−1), respectively. The results reveal a commercially feasible way to integrate microalgal lutein production with CO(2) fixation processes.