Hydrocarbon-producing alga cultivated in lab

The Mysore-based Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) has achieved a unique feat by cultivating Botryococcus braunii, a green alga, known for producing hydrocarbons.

The alga produces hydrocarbon at 25-40 per cent depending on the culture conditions, has been cultivated outdoors.

CFTRI director V Prakash told Business Standard that the alga has also been found to contain antioxidant properties as indicated by the cell cultures and the property helps offer protective effects. The credit for achieving the feat goes to Ravishankar and his team and the plant cell biotechnology department, CFTRI, he said.

Its use as a source of hydrocarbon needs to be evaluated vis-à-vis other sources. It is also known to produce lutein which is of value as a nutraceutical.

The institute has developed a culture method for growth and astaxanthin production in the lab, he said.

The organism from haematococcus produces astaxanthin, a ketocarotenoid at over the 2 per cent level.

Astaxanthin is a very potent antioxidant and does not possess vitamin A activity. There is a huge demand for antioxidants in various health supplements especially for treating degenerative disorders.

Another technology developed by the CSIR Institute is for the largescale production of biomass of Dunaliella using fresh water supplemented with salts.