N. Mirhosseini - Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Arak University, Arak, Iran
R. Davarnejad - Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Arak University, Arak, Iran
A. Hallajisani - Biofuel Research Laboratory, Caspian Faculty of Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
E. Cano-europa - Laboratorio de Metabolismo, Departamento de Fisiología, Escuela Nacional de CienciasBiológicas, InstitutoPolitecnico Nacional, Código Postal ۰۷۷۳۸ Ciudad de México, Mexico
O. Tavakoli - School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

In this research, a new cost-effective carbon source of medium was provided in terms of high-efficiency growth from Arthrospira maxima. Sugarcane molasses was used in two different modes (alternative and additive) at four different concentrations (۰, ۰.۵, ۱.۰ and ۱.۵ gL-۱) to determine the effect of new carbon source versus its standard carbon source of Zarrouk’s medium (NaHCO۳). The experimental results were analyzed by Taguchi L۸ method as a statistical technique. The highest biomass production obtained when sugarcane molasses was added as an alternative source, which was ۵.۳۱ times higher than the usual Zarrouk's media. Furthermore, final biomass concentration increased with increasing molasses concentration from ۰ to ۱.۵ gL-۱ in this group. At highest concentration, phycocyanin (at ۰.۱۱ and ۰.۱۲ gL-۱), allophycocyanin (at ۰.۱۳ and ۰.۱۲ gL-۱), carotenoids (at ۲۳۴۰ and ۲۵۳۵ mgL-۱), chlorophyll a (at ۲۳.۸۳ and ۲۴.۸۳ mgL-۱), and chlorophyll b (at ۰.۳۴۳ and ۲.۹۹ mgL-۱) obtained when molasses were added as an additive and alternative sources, respectively. Finally, the replacement of standard carbon sources of medium with sugarcane molasses had the potential possibility in order to reduce the production costs of Arthrospira maxima growth.

Cost Effective, growth, Microalgae, statistical analysis, Sugarcane Molasses