Fed-batch culture under illumination with blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) for astaxanthin production by Haematococcus pluvialis.

To increase the cell concentration and the accumulation of astaxanthin, the effects of the fed-batch addition of 10-fold-concentrated medium to supply nutrients, as well as illumination with blue light emitting diodes (LEDs), on cell growth and accumulation of astaxanthin were studied for the cultivation of Haematococcus pluvialis. Using the fed-batch addition method, the cell concentration increased above 1 mg-dry cell/cm3, and under illumination with blue LEDs, the astaxanthin concentration reached approximately 70 microg/cm3. This method was much simpler to operate than the medium replacement method in operation and enabled us to attain a higher total yield of astaxanthin.