Pyrolysis-GCMS of Spirulina platensis: Evaluation of biomasses cultivated under autotrophic and mixotrophic conditions
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Microalgae are autotrophs and CO 2 fixers with great potential to produce biofuels in a sustainable way, however the high cost of biomass production is a challenge. Mixotrophic growth of microalgae has been presented as a great alternative to achieve economic sustainability. Thus, the present work reports the energetic characterization of S. platensis biomasses cultivated under autotrophic (A) and mixotrophic conditions using cheese whey waste at different concentrations, 2.5 (M2.5), 5.0 (M5) and 10.0% (M10), in order to analyze the potential production of valuable chemicals and bio-oil by TGA/DTG and Py-GC/MS. The biochemical compositions of the studied biomasses were different due to the influence of different culture mediums. As the whey concentration increased, there was an increase in the carbohydrate content and a decrease in the protein content, which influenced the elemental composition, calorific value, TGA and volatile compounds evaluated by Py-GC/MS at 450°C, 550°C and 650°C. Sample M10 had lower protein content and formed a smaller amount of nitrogenates compounds by pyrolysis at all temperatures evaluated. There was a reduction of 43.8% (450º), 45.6% (550ºC) and 23.8% (650ºC) in the formation of nitrogenates compounds in relation to sample A. Moreover, the temperature also showed a considerable effect in the formation of volatile compounds. The highest yields of nitrogenates compounds, phenols and aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons were observed at 650ºC. The oxygenated, and N and O containing compounds decreased as the temperature increased. Hydrocarbons such as toluene, heptadecane and heneicosane were produced by S.platensis pyrolysis, which makes this biomass attractive for production of high quality bio-oil and valuable chemicals. Therefore, the results showed that it is possible to decrease the formation of nitrogen compounds via manipulation of growth conditions and temperature.
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Elemental analysers for carbon/hydrogen/nitrogen such as the Elementar Vario EL Cube are used to determine organic carbon content in microalgae biomass.
“Elemental analysers for carbon/hydrogen/nitrogen (C/H/N), such as the Elementar Vario EL Cube (Hanau, Germany), are used to determine the organic carbon content in the microalgae biomass.”
From Multi-Sensing Monitoring of the Microalgae Biomass Cultivation Systems for Biofuels and Added Value Products Synthesis—Challenges and Opportunities (2025) · cites this paper as [208]
The Materials and methods section (Characterization of S. platensis; page not supplied) confirms that an elemental analyzer measured carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen in microalgal biomass. It names a Vario Micro Cube, not an Elementar Vario EL Cube, and reports elemental carbon content rather than specifically organic carbon content. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThese devices allow accurate quantification of carbon in samples, which is essential for evaluating photosynthetic efficiency and biomass production.
“These devices allow accurate quantification of carbon in the samples, which is essential for the evaluation of photosynthetic efficiency and biomass production [208].”
From Multi-Sensing Monitoring of the Microalgae Biomass Cultivation Systems for Biofuels and Added Value Products Synthesis—Challenges and Opportunities (2025) · cites this paper as [208]
The Materials and methods section (‘Characterization of S. platensis’; page not provided) says an elemental analyzer with a thermal conductivity detector quantified carbon in the samples. The Results and discussion section (‘Composition of biomass’; page not provided) discusses carbon content and biomass production, but does not establish that carbon quantification is essential for evaluating photosynthetic efficiency. (LLM, conf=0.82)
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Dębowski, M., Kazimierowicz, J., & Zieliński, M. (2025) · Applied Sciences · doi:10.3390/app15137324 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
- Authors
- Paula, S. F. A., Chagas, B. M. E., Pereira, M. I. B., Rangel, A. H. N., Sassi, C. F. C., Borba, L. H. F., Santos, E. S., Asevedo, E. A., Câmara, F. R. A., & Araújo, R. M.
- Affiliations
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (BR)
- Corresponding author
- Chagas, Bruna M. E.
- Venue
- PLOS ONE
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- Published
- 2022-10-20
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- e0276317
- ISSN
- 1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC9584514
- OpenAlex
- W4306901545
- Cited by
- 11
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1
- FWCI
- 0.51
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Biofuel production and bioconversion
- Keywords
- Spirulina platensis, microalgal biomass, mixotrophic cultivation, autotrophic cultivation, whey, bio-oil, pyrolysis, nitrogen compounds, volatile compounds, biofuels, biomass composition, phenols, hydrocarbons, calorific value
- MeSH terms
- Pyrolysis, Carbohydrates, Carbon Dioxide, Hot Temperature, Hydrocarbons, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Plant Oils, Toluene, Nitrogen Compounds, Biomass, Spirulina, Biofuels, Microalgae, Polyphenols
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