**1. Introduction**

*Coccomyxa acidophila* is a novel microalgal specie isolated from Tinto River (Huelva, Spain), which is so-called the 'Red river' due to its high iron water concentration. This special feature causes the river bed to constitute an acidic environment where the pH value remains constantly between 2 and 3 along a stretch of 80 km [1]. Besides, this microalga is characterized by having important potential to accumulate high lutein concentrations, a carotenoid with powerful well-known antioxidant 
