Facile Synthesis of Chlorophyll-based Spirulina Biotransducer via Calcium Nitrate Preparation for Diabetes Detection Mulia Safrida Sari1*, Rachmad Almi Putra2, Yonadiah Dwitya3, M Ari Fahril4, Tia Triska5
1,3,5 Department of Biology, Faculty Science and Technology, Universitas Samudra
2,4 Department of Geophysics, Faculty Science and Technology, Universitas Samudra
Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the potential of calcium nitrate as a specific nutrient capable of enhancing the chlorophyll content in spirulina. The experimental design employed a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with Two Factors, consisting of 12 treatments and 3 replications. Each research group was conditioned with varying salinity levels: 0 ppt (S0), 25 ppt (S25), and 35 ppt (S35). In the treatment groups, calcium nitrate was added at different concentrations: 2.5 g/L (P1), 3.5 g/L (P2), and 4.5 g/L (P3). Biomass accumulation and specific growth rate were monitored and data were collected throughout the experiment. At the end of the treatment period, chlorophyll was extracted and its concentration was measured using UV-Vis Spectrophotometry and FTIR analysis. Data were analyzed using Two-Factorial ANOVA, followed by Duncan^s post-hoc test at a 5% or 0.05 significance level. The results indicated that the addition of calcium nitrate at a concentration of 4.5 g/L combined with 35 ppt salinity increased the average biomass productivity over 15 days by 5.1 g/L, which correlated with a specific growth rate in the stationary phase of 0.12 per unit time. Furthermore, the addition of calcium nitrate at a concentration of 4.5 g/L in 35 ppt salinity was found to increase total chlorophyll concentration to 70.15 μ-g/mL, further supporting its potential as a supplementary nutrient to enhance the biotransducer properties of spirulina chlorophyll.
