Chlorella vulgaris Useful algal
Chlorella vulgaris is a unicellular alga found in lakes, ponds and rivers – but also in bioreactors and even your smoothie bowl. This microalga has a number of remarkably useful properties that we humans are cleverly making use of.
Image: Wim van Egmond
Microscopic plant
C. vulgaris is a green alga and belongs to the plant kingdom. Making it one of the smallest plants on Earth. Like its larger relatives, C. vulgaris performs photosynthesis: converting sunlight and carbon dioxide into sugars and oxygen.
Under the microscope, C. vulgaris appears as a bright green sphere, surrounded by a thin, transparent cell wall. A tiny solar battery in a perfectly round shape.
Algal fuel on the motorway?
Thanks to its high fat content (up to 50%), Chlorella is an interesting candidate for biodiesel production – a potential sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. The technology is still under development, but the potential is huge. Perhaps one day we’ll be driving on algae power.
Chlorella also shows promise in other forms of energy generation, such as biogas and combustible biomass. Just one litre of cultivated Chlorella can produce enough energy to power a standard LED lamp for over 500 hours. A tiny organism with a remarkably large output.
Power food from the past
Ever tried a green smoothie or juice with algae such as Chlorella? It may sound like a trendy health fad, but people have been eating algae for thousands of years – for example, along the coast of Peru. And for good reason: Chlorella vulgaris is packed with proteins, vitamins and antioxidants like chlorophyll and beta-carotene. These substances help neutralise harmful molecules in our bodies. A cell as small as a speck of dust, with a powerful impact on our health.
Microbes on the menu
At ARTIS-Micropia, Chlorella vulgaris plays an important role in the diet of the water flea (Daphnia magna). These tiny, plant-eating crustaceans, just visible to the naked eye, feed on a mix of algae including Chlorella, Selenastrum and Scenedesmus. No need to worry: unlike regular fleas, these aquatic creatures are completely harmless. And what they eat reveals just how vital microbes are to every food chain.
See them with your own eyes
At ARTIS-Micropia, you can view Chlorella vulgaris up close. What’s invisible to the naked eye turns out to be a world in itself under the microscope. Shades of green, perfect spheres, and a life powered by sunlight.
Be amazed by this green powerhouse and by the hidden world of microbes.