Biomass production and fatty acid profile of a Scenedesmus rubescens-like microalga

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2011-11, Vol.102 (21), p.10131-10135
• Main Authors: Tan, Yixin, Lin, Junda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algae; Biodiesel; Biofuel production; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Biotechnology; Combined nutrient deficiency; Concentration (composition); Energy; Esters - analysis; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids - analysis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Microalgae - drug effects; Microalgae - growth & development; Microalgae - metabolism; Nanocomposites; Nanostructure; Nitrogen - deficiency; Nitrogen - pharmacology; Phosphates; Phosphates - deficiency; Phosphates - pharmacology; Scenedesmus; Scenedesmus - drug effects; Scenedesmus - growth & development; Scenedesmus - metabolism; Scenedesmus rubescens
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.07.091

► Combined N and P deficiency affects biomass yield, FAME composition and productivity of Scenedesmus rubescens-like alga. ► The combined deficiency increased the FAME yield and also raised C16 and C18 content. ► The combined N and P deficiency affected the finial FAME production. Lower N (3–10 mM) and low P (20 μM) is an optimal combination tested to produce the most FAME from S.rubescens-like alga. This investigation examined the effects of nitrogen–phosphate combined deficiency on the biomass yield, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) production and composition from Scenedesmus rubescens-like microalga. A 15-day indoor culture was performed as a 3×3 factorial design (NaNO3 levels: 3, 10 and 20mM; KH2PO4 levels: 20, 50 and 150μM). The algae grown under medium nitrogen concentration (10mM) and high phosphate concentration (150μM) reached the highest biomass (1223.5±152.5mg/L). Both nitrogen and phosphate had a significant influence on the FAME yield (P