Biomass production from organic waste with microalgae

This study investigates the potential of utilizing peanut shells, a lignocellulosic agricultural waste, as a carbon source for microalgal biomass production. Peanut shells collected from Düziçi (Osmaniye, Türkiye) were washed, dried, ground, and subjected to water, acid, and alkaline pretreatments to obtain hydrolysates. These hydrolysates were incorporated into growth media to support the heterotrophic and mixotrophic cultivation of Galdieria sulphuraria and Chlorella sorokiniana. Among the tested methods, alkaline hydrolysates yielded the highest biomass productivity. G. sulphuraria cultures showed enhanced growth in heterotrophic and mixotrophic conditions, especially when supplemented with glucose. The conversion of lignocellulosic components into simple carbohydrates and their subsequent uptake by microalgae was successfully demonstrated. This work presents a novel approach to valorizing peanut shell waste for sustainable microalgal biotechnology applications.