YCYihui Cai

Yihui Cai

*This is an algorithmically generated author record based on publicly available information.

Current Organizations / Institutes

The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article


Yihui Cai has a total of 15 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:


Latest Publications

  • Open Access

    Enhancement of Carbon Conversion and Value-Added Compound Production in Heterotrophic Chlorella vulgaris Using Sweet Sorghum Extract

    by Kangping Wu, Yilin Fang, Biyuan Hong, Yihui Cai, Honglei Xie, Yunpu Wang, Xian Cui, Zhigang Yu, Yuhuan Liu, Roger Ruan, et al.

    High-cost carbon sources are not economical or sustainable for the heterotrophic culture of Chlorella vulgaris. In order to reduce the cost, this study used sweet sorghum extract (SE) and its enzymatic hydrolysate (HSE) as alternative carbon sources for the heterotrophic culture of Chlorella vulgaris. Under the premise of the same total carbon concentration, the value-added product production performance of Chlorella vulgaris cultured in HSE (supplemented with nitrogen sources and minerals) was much better than that in the glucose medium. The conversion rate of the total organic carbon and the utilization rate of the total nitrogen were both improved in the HSE system. The biomass production and productivity using HSE reached 2.51 g/L and 0.42 g/L/d, respectively. The production of proteins and lipids using HSE reached 1.17 and 0.35 g/L, respectively, and the production of chlorophyll-a, carotenoid, and lutein using HSE reached 30.42, 10.99, and 0.88 mg/L, respectively. The medium cost using HSE decreased by 69.61% compared to glucose. This study proves the feasibility and practicability of using HSE as a carbon source for the low-cost heterotrophic culture of Chlorella vulgaris.


  • Open Access

    Effects of Culture Conditions on the Performance of Arthrospira platensis and Its Production of Exopolysaccharides

    by Zihan Li, Yuhuan Liu, Ting Zhou, Leipeng Cao, Yihui Cai, Yunpu Wang, Xian Cui, Hongbin Yan, Roger Ruan, Qi Zhang

    Exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by Arthrospira platensis (A. platensis) has been widely applied in industry and commerce for its various activities but the accumulation of EPS in culture medium may influence the growth of A. platensis reversely. This work aims to explore the impacts of initial pH, nitrogen source and concentration, phosphate concentration and recycle times of the culture medium on the growth of A. platensis and the secretion of its EPS. The results showed that EPS accumulated with the increase in recycle times of culture medium. The optimal initial pH for the growth of A. platensis was 8.50, and high pH of 11.5 inhibited the growth of biomass while resulting in highest EPS content of 92.87 mg/g DW. Excessive and limited nitrogen (NaNO3 of 25.00 g/L and NaNO3 < 2.50 g/L) and phosphate (K2HPO4 of 5.00 g/L and K2HPO4 < 0.50 g/L) inhibited the biomass production of A. platensis by 1.28–30.77% and 14.29–45.05%, respectively. EPS yield of 97.57 mg/g DW and 40.90 mg/g DW were obtained under NaNO3 of 25.00 g/L and K2HPO4 of 5.00 g/L due to salt stress. These findings are beneficial in providing a theoretical basis for high yield EPS from A. platensis without affecting biomass yield.