H. pluvialis algal cultures were grown from a cell concentration of 2 × 105 cell × mL− 1 (determined with a hemocytometer) in 250 mL flasks, each containing 100 mL of modified BG-11 medium; the flasks were held in a shaker (150 RPM) enriched with CO2 (300 mL × min−1) at 25°C, 110–140 μmol photon × m−2 × s−1. Under these conditions the cultures reach a stationary stage within one week