RESUMO
Utilizing flue gas CO2 to co-produce eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) with microalgae is considered an ideal approach for combating climate change and reducing cultivation costs. However, microalgal species that can efficiently produce EPA under high-CO2 conditions are scarce. This study identified that the eustigmatophycean strain Vacuoliviride crystalliferum demonstrates rapid growth under 20â¯% CO2 conditions (0.22 vvm), achieving a biomass concentration and productivity of 3.90 g/L and 229.26â¯mg/L d-1, respectively. The EPA content and EPA productivity were found to be 4.28â¯% (w/w) and 9.80â¯mg/L d-1, respectively. Additionally, an improved biomass concentration of 3.39â¯g/L and EPA content and productivity of 4.32â¯% (w/w) and 11.28â¯mg/L d-1 were obtained in a 30 L up-scaled cultivation system. Taken together, these findings suggest that V. crystalliferum is a promising candidate for integrating flue gas sequestration with EPA production.