Monday, April 19, 2010
4-24
Evaluation of the effect of nitrogen limitation in the lipid production of the microalgae Neochloris oleoabundans
Microalgal lipids appear to be a satisfactory feedstock for future sustainable biodiesel production. Neochloris oleoabundans is an edaphic microalgae that has a fatty acid profile that complies with existing biodiesel standards. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen limitation in the lipid productivity and the biochemical composition (carbohydrate, protein and lipid content) of N. oleoabundans. The study was conducted in 1 L glass cylindrical photobioreactors, using mineral medium with continuous illumination and constant bubbling of air during nine days. Nitrogen limitation diminished cell duplication rate, but a higher cell dry weight was enhanced as a consequence of lipid accumulation, with a concomitant reduction in protein and carbohydrate content. The highest lipid content (44% of cell dry weight), production (0.32 g/L) and productivity (35 mg/L/d) values were obtained under nitrogen starvation with an initial cell density of 40 x 106 cells/mL and a nitrate concentration of 0.6 mM. These results allow proposing cultures of this microalge as a promising system to obtain large amounts of lipids for biodiesel production.
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See more of The 32nd Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals (April 19-22, 2010)
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See more of The 32nd Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals (April 19-22, 2010)