The invention pertains to a method for synthesizing a product of interest by culturing a microalgal cell obtained from a subterranean habitat for producing the product of interest. The microalgal cell obtained from a subterranean habitat can be cultured in the dark, in light, in low nutrition, or nutrient rich conditions for at least a portion of production cycle. A combination of these conditions can be used to specifically manipulate a microalgal cell culture to produce a product of interest. The product of interest can be a water-soluble carotenoid, for example, a water-soluble carotenoid produced by culturing an algae belonging to the genus Haematococcus or a capsular exopolysaccharide produced by culturing an algae belonging to the genus Parachlorella. Compositions containing the water-soluble carotenoid, for example, as sunscreen and compositions containing the exopolysaccharide, for example, as moisturizing cream are also described.

The invention pertains to a method for synthesizing a product of interest by culturing a microalgal cell obtained from a subterranean habitat for producing the product of interest. The microalgal cell obtained from a subterranean habitat can be cultured in the dark, in light, in low nutrition, or nutrient rich conditions for at least a portion of production cycle. A combination of these conditions can be used to specifically manipulate a microalgal cell culture to produce a product of interest. The product of interest can be a water-soluble carotenoid, for example, a water-soluble carotenoid produced by culturing an algae belonging to the genus Haematococcus or a capsular exopolysaccharide produced by culturing an algae belonging to the genus Parachlorella. Compositions containing the water-soluble carotenoid, for example, as sunscreen and compositions containing the exopolysaccharide, for example, as moisturizing cream are also described.

Various embodiments may include systems, methods, and devices in which acid produced by a reactor, such as an electrochemical reactor or other type acid producing reactor, is used to produce carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) from a carbonate and the produced CO.sub.2 is used, or made available for use, for one or more purposes. In some embodiments, the electrochemical reactor may be powered by a renewable energy source.

A process to obtain a semi-solid solution to be used as a food coating, obtained from extracts of rosemary and other antioxidant components is disclosed. This process shows various advantages, namely, the obtention of the rosemary extract, which main components are rosmarinic and carnosic acid, and carnosol, are obtained easily without the use of polluting solvents, and showing a good yield and a strong antioxidant capacity. The coating solution has few ingredients and all of them are harmless to human health, beyond being cheap and easy to obtain, allowing the preservation of food in a natural way, without needing additional processing or plastics, in line with many studies that refer this tendency in consumers.

A process to obtain a semi-solid solution to be used as a food coating, obtained from extracts of rosemary and other antioxidant components is disclosed. This process shows various advantages, namely, the obtention of the rosemary extract, which main components are rosmarinic and carnosic acid, and carnosol, are obtained easily without the use of polluting solvents, and showing a good yield and a strong antioxidant capacity. The coating solution has few ingredients and all of them are harmless to human health, beyond being cheap and easy to obtain, allowing the preservation of food in a natural way, without needing additional processing or plastics, in line with many studies that refer this tendency in consumers.

The present invention relates to a novel violaxanthin-overproducing strain of Chlorella vulgaris and a method of producing violaxanthin therefrom. The inventors have developed a strain that produces violaxanthin at a significantly higher level than a wild-type strain by inducing a random chemical mutation in a Chlorella vulgaris strain to, and then as a result of analysis, confirmed that the strain produces violaxanthin up to 0.41% based on dry weight, which reaches the highest level that is possible to be produced in microalgae. Furthermore, as a method of effectively extracting a carotenoid pigment containing violaxanthin from the strain was established, since the strain and the developed pigment extraction method according to the present invention allow effective production and separation of violaxanthin, the strain is expected to increase commercial applications such as cosmetics, health functional foods and feed.

The present invention relates to a novel violaxanthin-overproducing strain of Chlorella vulgaris and a method of producing violaxanthin therefrom. The inventors have developed a strain that produces violaxanthin at a significantly higher level than a wild-type strain by inducing a random chemical mutation in a Chlorella vulgaris strain to, and then as a result of analysis, confirmed that the strain produces violaxanthin up to 0.41% based on dry weight, which reaches the highest level that is possible to be produced in microalgae. Furthermore, as a method of effectively extracting a carotenoid pigment containing violaxanthin from the strain was established, since the strain and the developed pigment extraction method according to the present invention allow effective production and separation of violaxanthin, the strain is expected to increase commercial applications such as cosmetics, health functional foods and feed.

The present invention relates generally to the field of food compositions comprising algae. In particular, the present invention relates to a food composition comprising algae which are heat treated to reduce unwanted off-flavors. The algae may be algae from the Chlorella genus. For example, the algae may be Chlorella vulgaris. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method to reduce the off-taste of an algae containing composition comprising a heat treatment, wherein the heat treatment comprises a primary heat treatment at a temperature in the range of about 130-160° C. and a secondary heat treatment at a temperature in the range of about 90-150° C.

The present invention relates generally to the field of food compositions comprising algae. In particular, the present invention relates to a food composition comprising algae which are heat treated to reduce unwanted off-flavors. The algae may be algae from the Chlorella genus. For example, the algae may be Chlorella vulgaris. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method to reduce the off-taste of an algae containing composition comprising a heat treatment, wherein the heat treatment comprises a primary heat treatment at a temperature in the range of about 130-160° C. and a secondary heat treatment at a temperature in the range of about 90-150° C.

A bioreactor includes a first compartment designed to retain seaweed sporophytes, a second compartment in fluid communication with the first compartment that includes one or more settlement surfaces, and a first porous barrier between the first and second compartments that allows the seaweed spores to pass from the first compartment to the second compartment, and systems comprising the bioreactor. Also provided herein are methods of culturing seaweed, for example, using a bioreactor provided herein.