cooling or medium aeration. The culture purity was checked
through periodic microscopic observation. After achieving an
appropriate optical density and nitrate depletion the production
of storage compounds occurred. S. obliquus biomass was harvested
by decantation and subsequent centrifugation at 18,592 g (4 C) for
15 min (Beckman, Avanti J-25I), and dried in an oven at 70 C. The
biomass was further ground into a fine powder (