Description:Spirulina is a type of bacteria called cyanobacterium commonly known as blue-green algae that grows both in fresh as well as salt water. Similar to plants it produces energy from sunlight through the photosynthesis process. It grows and thrives in warm water alkaline ponds and rivers. Protein is one of the important components in a diet. It is one of the best potential sources of protein. This protein in Spirulina is grown commercially in large-scale culture systems for human as well as animal consumption. Spirulina contains 40 to 80% protein content and its growth rate is very high. For its growth, it requires less water, land, and can grow in any climate in tropical regions. In commercial aquacultures such as fish, prawn, and livestock; Spirulina either in the wet or dried form is used as a complementary dietary ingredient. Spirulina is unicellular, filamentous blue-green algae coiled in spirals of varying tightness and numbers measuring about 0.1 mm. In environments having adequate minerals, it grows rapidly with high nutrient content, low nucleic acid content, high concentrations of vitamins, and minerals. In developing countries, it is used as a potential source of food, feed, and fuel. For human nutrition, it is cultivated in large scale in clean waters and under controlled conditions while it is also grown in wastewaters and can be used in animal feed."

Zarrouk’s medium is the standard medium used for spirulina cultivation. The effect of modified Zarrouk’s medium on the growth response of 6 different Spirulina strains was evaluated. Specific growth rate, doubling time, mean daily division rate, biomass, and chlorophyll-A contents were analyzed. Growth patterns of these strains were monitored continuously for 40 days. The results revealed significant differences in the growth parameters for different strains. S. platensis (SP-6) and S. platensis (CCMB) showed the maximum specific growth rates (µ = 6.1, µ = 5.8), doubling times (Td = 6.93, Td = 6.87), mean division rates (k = 0.27, k = 0.23) biomasses (5.1, 5.0 g/l) and chlorophyll A contents (78, 65 µg/ml) respectively, when compared with the other strains used in this study. Therefore, S. platensis (SP-6) and S. platensis (CCMB) strains can be suggested for large scale commercial cultivation with modified Zarrouk’s medium. This provides the basis of a low cost medium for cultivating Spirulina, which is known to be a promising microalgae with several benefits.

Figure – 1 Preparation of Spirulina

Figure – 2 Powdered form of Spirulina

The production of spirulina consists four main processes,
1. Culture,
2. Filtration,
3. Washing and Dehydration and
4.drying.
1. Culture
Spirulina is cultured under the same condition as its original habitat, salt-water lakes, in subtropical area. An alkaline culture solution with nutrition is poured into a wide shallow culture pond, which is stirred by gentle streams. This allows spirulina to efficiently carry out photosynthesis and multiply itself.

2. Filtration
Multiplied Spirulina is in the form of algae. It is then separated from the culture solution through filtration.

3. Washing and Dehydration
Condensed spirulina which has been separated from the culture medium is placed on vacuum dehydration filter and washed repeatedly with clean water and dehydrated.

4. Drying
The dehydrated spirulina is instantaneously dried with a spray dryer and
made into powder. , C , C , Claims:We claim that,

1. We are using low cost medium for production of spirulina.
2. This protein present in spirulina is more digestive when compared to casein and other proteins.
3. It doesn’t need any special treatment or cooking for consumption.
4. It is free from harmful chemicals and antibiotics.