German glass technology group Schott and Israeli microalgae specialist Algatechnologies have signed a new R&D agreement following a successful joint one-year study at Algatech's algae production facility.
In the study, Schott's thin-walled Duran glass tubes achieved a 10% boost in algae cultivation efficiency, improving yields of Algatech's astaxanthin product, AstaPure.
'The partnership with Schott is an additional step toward achieving our objectives of optimising production efficiency, and widens our capabilities in the development of new microalgae-based products,' said Hagai Stadler, CEO of Algatech.
'This case study was an additional step in developing the highest purity AstaPure astaxanthin plus other innovative algae based ingredients.' Raz Rashelbach, R&D Manager at Algatech said the small-scale success of the study would now be replicated on a larger scale to support the company's aim of doubling its astaxanthin production capacity.
'The increase in sun exposure through the use of Duran tubing helps produce the purest AstaPure astaxanthin available in the market today,' he said.
Rashelbach and Nikolaos Katsikis of Schott will present the study results at the Algae Biomass Summit in San Diego, US next week.
The new R&D agreement will expand the companies' joint cooperation to optimise Algatech's production and optimise tubing design for the algae production industry as a whole. A dedicated section of Algatech's factory in the Arava Desert will serve as a beta site for advanced glass components developed by Schott for implementation in photobioreactors (PBRs).