The Influence of Light and Nutrient Starvation on Morphology, Biomass and Lipid Content in Seven Strains of Green Microalgae as a Source of Biodiesel.
Lorenza RugniniCatia RossiSimonetta AntonaroliArnold RakajLaura BrunoPublished in: Microorganisms (2020)
The development of clean and renewable energy sources is currently one of the most important challenges facing the world. Although research interests in algae-based energy have been increasing in the last decade, only a small percentage of the bewildering diversity exhibited by microalgae has been investigated for biodiesel production. In this work, seven strains of green microalgae belonging to the genera Scenedesmus, Tetradesmus and Desmodesmus were grown in liquid medium with or without a nitrogen (N) source-at two different irradiances (120 ± 20 and 200 ± 20 μmol photons m-2 s-1)-to evaluate biomass production and FAME (fatty acid methyl esters) content for biodiesel production. The strains of Tetradesmus obliquus and Desmodesmus abundans grown in N-deprived medium showed the highest FAME content (22.0% and 34.6%, respectively); lipid profile characterization highlighted the abundance of saturated FAME (as C16:0 and C18:0) that favors better viscosity (flow properties) and applicability of biodiesel at low temperatures. Light microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy observations were employed as a fast method to monitor the vital status of cells and lipid droplet accumulation after Nile red staining in different culture conditions.
Keyphrases
- fatty acid
- anaerobic digestion
- escherichia coli
- high resolution
- high throughput
- optical coherence tomography
- high speed
- single molecule
- induced apoptosis
- antibiotic resistance genes
- wastewater treatment
- single cell
- ionic liquid
- atomic force microscopy
- drinking water
- mass spectrometry
- cell cycle arrest
- label free
- cell proliferation
- flow cytometry