This study aimed to explore the effect of sodium bicarbonate (0–200 mM) on the
production of β-carotene and lipid content in Dunaliella salina and Dunaliella bardawil.
Total carotenoid and chlorophyll content were determined at regular intervals by a UV–
VIS spectrophotometer. The β-carotene and lipid contents were analyzed using highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass
spectrometry (GC-MS). The HPLC results revealed a twofold increase of β-carotene in D.
salina and D. bardawil cultures grown with sodium bicarbonate. Moreover, total fatty
acid profiles from GC-MS indicated a maximum relative percentage of saturated fatty
acids (tetradecanoic acid, 10,13-diethyl, methyl ester and methyl 16-methylheptadecanoate) compared to polyunsaturated fatty acids in both algae. Our results
indicate that the optimum concentration of bicarbonate (100 to 150 mM) was required to
stimulate a positive effect on β-carotene production as well as the lipid profile in
Dunaliella sp