Seawater Cultivation of Selenium-Enriched Nannochloropsis oceanica
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for enriching microalgae with selenium are inefficient and often require freshwater, leading to high costs and contamination issues, while selenium deficiency remains a significant health concern globally, particularly in regions with poor soil selenium status, affecting human and animal nutrition.
Innovation Solution
A sustained bioprocess is developed to enrich Nannochloropsis oceanica CASA CC201 with organic selenium by treating it with inorganic selenium over several generations, resulting in a microalga with over 99% organic selenium content, which is more bioavailable and digestible, and can tolerate high sodium selenite concentrations without growth lag, using seawater to reduce costs and avoid freshwater usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If inorganic selenium is used to enrich microalgae, then selenium content is improved, but organic selenium content and bioavailability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The microalgae strain N. oceanica CASA CC201 is pre-adapted to inorganic selenium through sequential passages in media containing increasing concentrations of sodium selenite. This preliminary adaptation enables the microalgae to develop metabolic pathways for converting inorganic selenium into organic selenium compounds, thereby resolving the contradiction between using inorganic selenium sources and achieving high organic selenium content.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the biological parameters of the microalgae through multi-generational cultivation under controlled selenium exposure conditions. By adjusting cultivation parameters (selenium concentration, exposure time, generations), the microalgae transform from being unable to utilize inorganic selenium to efficiently converting it into organic selenium forms, thus resolving the contradiction between selenium source type and organic selenium content.
2Reliability
If freshwater is used for microalgae cultivation, then growth conditions are improved, but production costs and contamination risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the microalgae cultivation system universal by enabling growth in both freshwater and seawater environments. The strain N. oceanica CASA CC201 is specifically adapted to thrive in seawater, eliminating the need for expensive freshwater resources while maintaining reliable growth conditions. This resolves the contradiction between growth reliability and manufacturing ease by making the system adaptable to abundant, low-cost seawater.
3Quantity of substance
If high selenium concentration is applied, then selenium enrichment is improved, but toxicity and growth inhibition worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful effect of high inorganic selenium concentration into a beneficial outcome by using sequential adaptation. The microalgae are gradually exposed to increasing selenium concentrations over multiple generations, transforming the toxic substance into beneficial organic selenium compounds through metabolic conversion. This resolves the contradiction between selenium enrichment and toxicity by converting the harmful inorganic form into the beneficial organic form.
Solution Approach 2:
The microalgae undergo preliminary adaptation to selenium stress through sequential passages before being used for production. This pre-conditioning enables them to tolerate and efficiently convert high selenium concentrations without toxicity, resolving the contradiction between achieving high selenium enrichment and avoiding toxic effects.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The process effectively enhances the organic selenium content of Nannochloropsis oceanica CASA CC201, making it a valuable food and feed supplement that is economically viable, bioavailable, and less toxic, addressing selenium deficiency and improving animal and human health.
Implementation Method 1
The organic selenium enriched marine microalgal biomass has been fortified with organic selenium by sequential bioprocess with inorganic selenium over several generations
Implementation Method 2
S. quadricauda SelV showed growth comparable to the wild and also absorb significantly higher quantity of selenium
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an organic selenium enriched edible marine microalga Nannochloropsis oceanica CASA CC201 with essential micronutrient Selenium, comprising organic selenium, along with omega 3 fatty acid and mono unsaturated fatty acid (MUFA). The present disclosure also provides a process for the organic selenium enrichment of edible marine microalga and a composition comprising the organic selenium enriched edible marine microalga Nannochloropsis oceanica. Moreover, the present disclosure also discloses a composition comprising the sustained bioprocess for organic selenium enriched edible marine microalga Nannochloropsis oceanica selenium enriched edible marine microalga, and wherein the composition is in the form of food, health, and feed supplements.