*2.6.2. Biomass concentration determination*

Dry cell weight (DCW) was obtained by centrifuging an aliquot of the sample followed by drying the cell pellet to a constant weight using an electric oven (Scientific, series 2000), in a pre-weighed centrifuge tube, at 105° C for approximately 24 h. It was later cooled in a desiccator. The biomass concentration was calculated on the basis of the volume of the fresh sample as the difference between the weight of the empty tube and the final weight of the tube plus the dried biomass after drying and cooling [28, 29].
