Microcalorimetric study of native cells of the microalgae Spirulina platensis in the temperature range (2-55)C

Thermal effects occurring upon heating a culture of blue-green microalgae Spirulina platensis in the temperature range 5-55 degrees C were studied. Under these conditions, an intensive heat evolution was observed. The heat evolution-versus-temperature curve has a peak with a maximum at approximately 45 degrees C and two distinct shoulders at approximately 25 and 40 degrees C. It was found that heat evolution Q at heating rates below 0.083 degree C/min does not change and is (381 +/- 20) J/g of dry biomass. It was concluded that this value is optimal for maintaining the cell viability (in particular, respiration) under anaerobic conditions, in the dark and in the stationary regime.