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Evaluation of Thirty Microalgal Isolates as Biodiesel Feedstocks Based on Lipid Productivity and Triacylglycerol (TAG) Content

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Abstract

Microalgae are considered feedstock for biodiesel production due to their capability to accumulate triacylglycerols, which have a 99% conversion rate into biodiesel, under certain conditions. This study aims to evaluate thirty native microalgal strains as feedstock for biodiesel production based on their biomass and lipid productivities, and total lipid and triacylglycerol contents under nitrogen-sufficient and nitrogen starvation conditions. In addition, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cw15 mutant strain was utilized as a reference strain for triacylglycerol accumulation. Among the eight potent strains, Chlorella vulgaris KP2 was considered as a most promising strain with the highest triacylglycerol content, highest total lipid content (28.56% of dry cell weight), and the highest lipid productivity (4.56 mg/L/day) under nitrogen starvation. Under nitrogen starvation, the major fatty acids in the triacylglycerol of Chlorella vulgaris KP2 were C18:1 (37.56%), C16:0 (23.16%), C18:0 (23.07), C18:2 (7.00%), and C18:3 (3.12%), and the percentages of saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids represented 49.26, 38.73, and 10.12% of the total fatty acids, respectively. Furthermore, the fatty acid methyl esters of triacylglycerol displayed remarkable biodiesel properties with a lower iodine value (59.00 gI2/100 g), higher oxidative stability (14.24 h) and higher cetane number (58.73) under nitrogen starvation. This study suggests that nitrogen-starved Chlorella vulgaris KP2 could be used as a feedstock for biodiesel production due to the considerable amounts of triacylglycerol and favorable biodiesel properties.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, 116Y345) and the University of Nevsehir Hacı Bektas Veli, Scientific Research Projects Unit (NEUBAP15F26), for their financial support.

Funding

This study was funded by TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, 116Y345) and the University of Nevsehir Hacı Bektas Veli, Scientific Research Projects Unit (NEUBAP15F26).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Nevsehir Haci Bektas Veli University, Nevsehir, Turkey

    Enver Ersoy Andeden

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering, Nevsehir Haci Bektas Veli University, Nevsehir, Turkey

    Sahlan Ozturk

  3. Department of Biology, Gazi University, Ankara, 06500, Turkey

    Belma Aslim

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  1. Enver Ersoy Andeden
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  2. Sahlan Ozturk
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EEA performed the experiments, analyzed and interpreted the data, wrote the paper, and prepared figures and/or tables. SO and BA planned and designed the research, interpreted the data, and wrote and edited the paper.

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Correspondence to Sahlan Ozturk.

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Andeden, E.E., Ozturk, S. & Aslim, B. Evaluation of Thirty Microalgal Isolates as Biodiesel Feedstocks Based on Lipid Productivity and Triacylglycerol (TAG) Content. Curr Microbiol 78, 775–788 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-020-02340-5

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