Distribution, screening and biochemical characterization of indigenous microalgae for bio-mass and bio-energy production potential from three districts of Pakistan

• Published in: Brazilian journal of biology 2024, Vol.84, p.1-9
• Main Authors: Najeeb, M. I., Ahmad, M.-D., Anjum, A. A., Maqbool, A., Ali, M. A., Nawaz, M., Ali, T., Manzoor, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agar; Agricultural wastes; Algae; Aquatic microorganisms; Assaying; Biodiesel fuels; biofuel; Biofuels; BIOLOGY; Biomass; Carbohydrates; Clean technology; Energy resources; Fatty acids; Fourier transform infrared; Fourier transforms; Infrared analysis; Lipids; Microalgae; Microorganisms; Morphology; Natural resources; Nile red staining; Proteins; Room temperature; Soil water; Substrates; Triglycerides; Vanillin; Water analysis; Water sampling
• ISSN: 1519-6984; 1678-4375; 1678-4375
• DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.261698

Abstract Trend of biofuel production from microalgal triacylglycerols is enhancing, because this substrate is a good sustainable and advantageous alternative to oil and gas fuel. In the present study, indigenous micro algal isolates were screened from water (n=30) and soil (n=30) samples collected from three districts of Punjab, Pakistan to evaluate their biofuel production potential. The samples were inoculated on BG – 11 agar medium plates by incubating at room temperature of 25°C providing 1000 lux for 16h light cycle followed by 8h of dark cycle for 15 d. Water samples were found to be rich in microalgae and 65.33% microalgae (49 isolates) were isolated from Faisalabad district. On the basis of microscopic morphology microalgal isolates (n=180) were selected and subjected to lipid detection by Nile red staining assay. Nile red positive isolates (n=23) were processed for biochemical (lipid, protein and carbohydrates) characterization. AIN63 isolate showed higher lipids (17.4%) content as detected by micro vanillin assay. Algal isolate AIN128 showed best protein contents (42.91%) detected by Bradford assay and AIN172 isolate showed higher carbohydrate contents (73.83%) as detected by anthrone assay. The selected algal isolates were also analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for confirmation of carbohydrate, protein and lipid analysis. These indigenous algae have the potential for in-vitro biofuel production from agricultural waste. Resumo A tendência de produção de biocombustíveis a partir de triacilgliceróis de microalgas está aumentando, porque esse substrato é uma boa alternativa sustentável e vantajosa ao combustível de petróleo e gás. No presente estudo, isolados de microalgas indígenas foram selecionados de amostras de água (n = 30) e solo (n = 30) coletadas em três distritos de Punjab, Paquistão, para avaliar seu potencial de produção de biocombustíveis. As amostras foram inoculadas em placas de meio BG – 11 agar por incubação em temperatura ambiente de 25°C proporcionando 1000 lux por 16h de ciclo claro seguido de 8h de escuro por 15 dias. As amostras de água foram ricas em microalgas e 65.33% de microalgas (49 isolados) foram isolados do distrito de Faisalabad. Com base na morfologia microscópica, isolados de microalgas (n = 180) foram selecionados e submetidos à detecção de lipídios por ensaio de coloração com vermelho do Nilo. Isolados positivos para vermelho do Nilo (n = 23) foram processados para caracterização bioquímic