Manipulating nutrient composition of microalgal growth media to improve biomass yield and lipid content of Micractinium pusillum

• Published in: African journal of biotechnology 2012-11, Vol.11 (96), p.16270-16276
• Main Authors: Reda, A I Abou Shanab, Sapireddy, V Raghavulu, Nagah, M A Hassanin, Seongheon, Kim, Yong, Je Kim, Sang, Un Oh, You Kwan, Oh, Byong Hun, Jeon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Micractinium pusillum
• ISSN: 1684-5315; 1684-5315
• DOI: 10.5897/AJB12.2628

Biodiesel production from microalgae depends on the algal biomass and lipid content. Both biomass production and lipid accumulation are limited by several factors in which nutrients play a key role. We investigated the influences of micronutrients on biomass, and lipid content of Micractinium pusillum GU732425 cultivated in bold basal media (BBM). The average dry biomass of microalgal strain in control medium reached 0.34 plus or minus 0.01 g/L, while doubling (2X) the levels of Mn and Cu concentration increased the dry biomass to 0.38 similar to 0.01 and 0.37 similar to 0.02 g/L., respectively. M. pusillum cultivated in control medium had a biomass of 0.82 plus or minus 0.05 g/L and a lipid productivity of 0.33 plus or minus 0.02 g/L after 17 day cultivation. The alga cultivated in BBM with 4X Mn or 4X Cu produced more biomass (1.25 plus or minus 0.01 or 1.28 plus or minus 0.04 g dw/L) and lipid productivity (0.45 plus or minus 0.04 or 0.47 plus or minus 0.05 g/L), respectively. M. pusillum cultivated in different growth media had fatty acid compositions mainly comprising linoleic (49-54%), palmitic (24-29%), linolenic (16-22%), and oleic acids (2-5%). These results can be used to maximize the production of microalgal biomass and lipids in optimally designed photobioreactors.