1. Food and food additives
Microalgae are rich in carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals and other energy and nutrients. For example, the protein content of spirulina and chlorella can reach 50-70% of the dry cell weight. At present, microalgae are often regarded as super foods or foods of the future. In the early 1960s, during the famine, there was a wave of cultivating chlorella for all people in China as food to satisfy their hunger. Currently, the microalgae that can be used as food mainly include spirulina, chlorella, and so on. In addition to making spirulina and chlorella into algae powder for infusion or pressing into tablets, they can usually be added to other foods, such as microalgae noodles, microalgae bread, microalgae snacks, etc.
2. Edible oil
Under certain culture conditions, certain microalgae can synthesize a large amount of oil, which can be used as edible oil after extraction and deep processing. At present, the United States has successfully developed microalgae edible oil. Compared with other vegetable edible oils, microalgae edible oil has a higher content of unsaturated fatty acids (more beneficial to the human body) and a higher smoke point temperature (that is, it is in general Under the cooking temperature range, less oily smoke is produced).