Nannochloropsis oceanica as a Source of Bioactive Compounds: Mapping the Effects of Cultivation Conditions on Biomass Productivity and Composition Using Response Surface Methodology

Microalga Nannochloropsis oceanica presents a promising source of high-value food ingredients such as protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins. To fully unlock its potential, a thorough understanding of how cultivation conditions affect both growth and the nutritional composition is required. Hence, this study aimed to test and model the effects of temperature, light intensity, and salinity on biomass productivity and the final contents of protein, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and vitamin K2 using response surface methodology (RSM). The RSM experiment revealed that the highest temperature and light intensity tested favored biomass productivity and protein content. According to the generated models, the two responses peaked with 0.135 g DM·L−1·day−1 and 0.559 g·g−1 DM, respectively, at 27 °C and 300–350 µmol·m−2·s−1. In contrast, the contents of both EPA and menaquinone-4 (MK-4), the only detected K vitamer, were stimulated at the lowest tested temperature. Based on the generated models, the two responses peaked with 0.037 g·g−1 DM and 89.3 µg·g−1 DM, respectively, at 19 °C combined with 3.0% salinity (EPA) or 120 µmol·m−2·s−1 (MK-4). Although additional optima may exist beyond the tested conditions, these findings provide valuable information on N. oceanica’s cellular response to changes in key cultivation conditions. Furthermore, it shows that two-stage cultivation may be needed to fully unlock the potential of this microalga as a future source of valuable lipid ingredients.