An Improved Medium for Producing Spirulina Biomass

Abstract

The present invention discloses an improved culture medium to produce Spirulina platensis biomass, formulated from low-cost and locally available commercial-grade components. Conventional media such as Zarrouk’s medium rely on costly, reagent-grade chemicals and nitrate-based nitrogen sources that are regulated and impractical in the Philippine setting. The disclosed medium comprises urea (15 g / L), ammonium phosphate (15 g / L), ammonium sulfate (50 g / L), sodium silicate (20 g / L), beneficial microorganisms (EM-1™) (30 g / L), sodium bicarbonate (10 g / L), micronutrient mix (Plantex CSM+BTM) (1 g / L), and table salt (1 g / L), administered at 1 mL / liter of culture. The formulation supports equal or greater biomass yield compared to Spirulina grown in Zarrouk’s and other established media, while significantly reducing production cost. The culture process includes laboratory-scale and outdoor upscaling under controlled aeration, illumination, and photoperiod conditions, with biomass harvested through simple filtration and drying. This invention provides a practical and economical solution for sustainable Spirulina cultivation.