Enhanced Biomass and Photosynthetic Pigment Productivity of Spirulina platensis Using a Sustainable Medium from Chicken Feather and Moringa oleifera Leaf Extract

Spirulina platensis biomass represents a renewable resource for the sustainable production of high-quality products. However, substantial costs and nutrient availability limit large-scale production. Nutrients from agro-industrial by-products can serve as supplementary sources to enhance S. platensis production. This study evaluated chicken feather (CF) medium and Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MLE) as eco-friendly alternative culture media for increasing Spirulina platensis biomass and photosynthetic pigment production. The culture medium was formulated by processing chicken feathers to produce a CF-based medium. Different MLE concentrations (0, 10, 15, and 20 g L−1) were subsequently prepared in distilled water. S. platensis was cultured in cylindrical vessels under greenhouse conditions for 27 days. The CF media enriched with 15 g L−1 M. oleifera leaf extract (CF-MLE-15) presented the highest optical density (1.68 ± 0.03) and dry-biomass concentration (1.98 ± 0.05 g L−1), outperforming the values observed in the standard (JM) and the control (CF-MLE-0) media. Moreover, the content and productivity of carotenoids and chlorophyll a were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the CF-MLE-15 treatment than in the other CF-MLE and control treatments. Nonetheless, the contents of chlorophyll a (1.72 ± 0.12 mg L−1), carotenoids (0.90 ± 0.003 mg L−1), and phycobiliproteins in the standard medium (JM) exceeded those found in the CF-MLE treatments. Consequently, a CF medium supplemented with 15 g L−1 of M. oleifera leaf extract may be a viable and economical alternative for producing S. platensis biomass and photosynthetic molecules.