In this study the combined effect of total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN) concentration, initial biomass density and initial pH of the cultivation medium on growth of Arthrospira platensis was studied. The results indicate that TAN inhibition in relation to the initial biomass in unregulated pH cultures is neither a clearly biomass-independent nor biomass-dependent phenomenon. However, low biomass densities are more susceptible to ammonia inhibition than higher biomass densities. Higher biomass densities seems to mitigate ammonia inhibition through rapider assimilation of TAN. In all cases studied the growth rates were lower compared to the cultures with nitrate as nitrogen source. It was observed that at low TAN concentration, although no ammonia inhibition occured the growth rates were decreased due to nitrogen limitation. Low TAN concentration triggered the accumulation of carbohydrates affecting thus significantly the biomass composition. Ammonia losses from the cultivation system were also determined. Ammonia losses ranged between 17% and 80%. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.