Chemical composition,protein digestibility and heat of combustion of filamentous green algae

The filamentous green algae investigated (Hormidium sp. strainHindák 1963/21,Ulothrix sp. strainHindák 1964/2,Uronema gigas Visch. strainVischer/Bloom. 174,Uronema sp. strainHindák 1963/25 andStigeoclonium sp. strainHindák 1964/1), contain similar amounts of proteins, lipids, cellulose and ash as the hitherto used production strains of the generaChlorella andScenedesmus. The digestibility of proteins in vitro is about one-third higher in the filamentous algae than in the employed referenceScenedesmus quadricauda strainGreifswald/15, used in Czechoslovakia as a model production strain. The heats of combustion of the filamentous algae are relatively lower (5519–5923 cal/g dry weight) than in the reference strain (6145 cal/g dry weight). From the point of view of application of filamentous green algae to mass cultivation their advantages over the presently employed chlorococcal algae (Chlorella, Scenedesmus) consist in a pronouncedly greater digestibility of their proteins without special technological treatment of the material obtained and a greater production of biomass.