CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION OF CYANOBACTERIA GROWN IN DILUTED, AERATED SWINEWASTE-WATER

The chemical composition of Spirulina maxima and Phormidium sp. biomas ses grown on pretreated and diluted swine wastewater was determined. A nalyses were carried out on lyophilized samples and compared with data from mineral media (controls). Analyses of Phormidium grown on aerati on-stabilized wastewater (ASSW) were: protein (Nx 6.25) 62%, lipids 11 %, carbohydrates (calculated by difference) 16%. For Spirulina in the same effluent, data were: protein 36% lipids 6% and carbohydrates 44%. No crude fiber was found in any of the samples. The fatty acid profil es of both biomasses showed important differences when compared to con trols. The biomasses contained all the essential amino acids. The Spir ulina biomass had a significantly higher content of pyridoxine, ribofl avin and pantothenic and nicotinic acids than Phormidium when grown on ASSW, but in general the vitamin content of both biomasses was practi cally the same as their respective controls. The results suggest that Phormidium and Spirulina biomasses could be wed as dietary supplements in animal feed, but further studies are needed to determine the nutri tional value of the product.