MILD METHOD OF PRECONCENTRATION OF DUNALIELLA-SALINA FROM CULTURE-MEDIUM

The photo- and chemo-taxisms of Dunaliella salina were used to induce a cell concentration in a layer of fresh water pumped to the top of a saline culture through a circular diffuser. When two consecutive opera tions were imposed to a 2.2 m(2) raceway type algae pond, 90% of the b iomass (at 0.7 dry cells/l) was recovered in 16% of the initial volume . The biomass, free from chemicals and/or mechanical damage, could be centrifuged to obtain a high quality biomass for human consumption. Th e remaining medium in the pond (containing the rest of the cells) coul d be re-innoculated and allow a new cycle of production.