Enhancement of biodiesel production in Chlorella vulgaris cultivation using silica nanoparticles

• Published in: Biotechnology and bioprocess engineering 2017, 22(2), , pp.136-141
• Main Authors: Jeon, Hong-Seop, Park, So Eun, Ahn, Bohye, Kim, Young-Kee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algae; Aquatic microorganisms; Biodiesel fuels; Biofuels; Biosynthesis; Biotechnology; Carbon dioxide; Cell culture; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chlorella; Chlorella vulgaris; Dry cells; Fatty acids; Industrial and Production Engineering; Lipids; Mass transfer; Nanoparticles; Productivity; Research Paper; Silica; Silicon dioxide; Weight; 생물공학
• ISSN: 1226-8372; 1976-3816
• DOI: 10.1007/s12257-016-0657-8

Silica nanoparticles were synthesized and used to enhance the gas-liquid mass transfer rate in a CO 2 /water system. Using silica (SiO 2 ) and methyl-functionalized silica (SiO 2 -CH 3 ) nanoparticles, the volumetric mass transfer coefficient (kLa) increased by 31 and 145%, respectively. SiO 2 and SiO 2 -CH 3 nanoparticles were applied in Chlorella vulgaris culture to enhance the growth of microalgae for lipid production. The highest dry cell weight of C. vulgaris (1.49 g/L) was obtained by addition of SiO 2 -CH 3 nanoparticles, compared to the control (0.48 g/L). Also, maximum productivity (1.005 g/L/day) of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) in C. vulgaris culture was obtained by introducing SiO 2 -CH 3 nanoparticles. Dry cell weight and FAME productivity increased 210 and 610%, respectively, with the addition of 0.2 wt% SiO 2 -CH 3 nanoparticles.