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Microalgae glossary
Short, clear definitions of the key terms in the world of microalgae: from what a microalga or a cyanobacterium is, to pigments, compounds and cultivation processes. Each term links to its page or section.
- Astaxanthin
- A red carotenoid with high antioxidant power. Its richest natural source is the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis, which accumulates it at up to around 5% of its dry weight.Species: Haematococcus →
- Beta-carotene
- An orange carotenoid and provitamin A. The microalga Dunaliella salina is its main natural source.Species: Dunaliella →
- Biomass
- Organic matter produced by microalgae (the cells and their components). It is the B2B raw material for food, agriculture, materials and energy.
- Biostimulant
- A substance that improves plant development and stress tolerance. Freshwater microalgae are used as agricultural biostimulants.Agriculture →
- Carotenoid
- A fat-soluble pigment (orange, red or yellow) with antioxidant function. It includes astaxanthin, beta-carotene, lutein and fucoxanthin.Pigments and colorants →
- Chlorophyll
- The green pigment that captures light in photosynthesis; very abundant in microalgae such as Chlorella.Species: Chlorella →
- Chloroplast
- The organelle of eukaryotic algae where chlorophyll resides and photosynthesis takes place.
- Coenobium
- A colony of a fixed number of cells that function as a unit, typical of microalgae such as Scenedesmus.Species: Scenedesmus →
- Cyanobacterium
- A photosynthetic bacterium (prokaryote) that carries out oxygenic photosynthesis; grouped with microalgae for its cultivation and uses. Spirulina is a cyanobacterium.Species: Spirulina →
- Diatom
- A microalga with a silica cell wall (frustule). Phaeodactylum tricornutum is a model diatom, rich in EPA and fucoxanthin.Species: Phaeodactylum →
- EPA (omega-3)
- Eicosapentaenoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid. Microalgae such as Nannochloropsis and Phaeodactylum are notable sources for nutraceuticals and aquaculture.Species: Nannochloropsis →
- Fucoxanthin
- A brown carotenoid present in diatoms and brown algae (e.g. Phaeodactylum), studied for its antioxidant activity.Species: Phaeodactylum →
- Heterocyst
- A specialised cell in some filamentous cyanobacteria (e.g. Anabaena) where nitrogen fixation occurs under oxygen-free conditions.
- Microalga
- A photosynthetic microorganism, mostly single-celled, that turns light, water and CO₂ into biomass and oxygen. The term groups eukaryotic algae and cyanobacteria.What are microalgae? →
- Mixotroph
- An organism that combines photosynthesis and heterotrophic nutrition (feeding on organic matter). Euglena is an example.Species: Euglena →
- Nitrogen fixation
- Conversion of atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into forms usable by plants. It is carried out by cyanobacteria with heterocysts, such as Anabaena.Species: Anabaena →
- Photobioreactor
- A closed microalgae cultivation system (tubes or panels) that controls light, temperature, CO₂ and nutrients, reducing contamination and increasing process control.Microalgae cultivation →
- Photosynthesis
- The process by which microalgae capture light energy and fix CO₂ to produce sugars and biomass, releasing oxygen.Topic: Photosynthesis →
- Phycobiliprotein
- A light-harvesting protein pigment of cyanobacteria and red algae. It includes phycocyanin (blue) and phycoerythrin (red).
- Phycocyanin
- A blue pigment (phycobiliprotein) characteristic of Spirulina, used as a natural food colorant and for its antioxidant activity.Species: Spirulina →
- Phycoerythrin
- A red fluorescent pigment (phycobiliprotein) of red algae such as Porphyridium; used as a colorant and as a marker in diagnostics.Species: Porphyridium →
- Raceway pond
- A shallow open pond with paddlewheel-driven circulation, used to cultivate microalgae at low cost and large scale.
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