Abstract
Agal-fermentation-based microbio-diesel production was realized through high-cell-density fermentation of Chlorella protothecoides and efficient transesterification process. Cell density achieved was 16.8 g l−1 in 184 h and 51.2 g l−1 in 167 h in a 5-l bioreactor by performing preliminary and improved fed-batch culture strategy, respectively. The lipid content was 57.8, 55.2, and 50.3% of cell dry weight from batch, primary, and improved fed-batch culture in 5-l bioreactor. Transesterification was catalyzed by immobilized lipase, and the conversion rate reached up to 98%. The properties of biodiesel from Chlorella were comparable to conventional diesel fuel and comply with US standard for Biodiesel. In a word, the approach including high-density fermentation of Chlorella and enzymatic transesterification process were set up and proved to be a promising alternative for biodiesel production.
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Acknowledgement
The research was supported by NSF Guangdong Joint project U0633009, National 863 project 2007AA05Z400 and China MOST Overseas Project 20070574. The immobilize lipase was kindly provided by professor Tan Tian-Wei in Beijing University of Chemical Technology.
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Xiong, W., Li, X., Xiang, J. et al. High-density fermentation of microalga Chlorella protothecoides in bioreactor for microbio-diesel production. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 78, 29–36 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-007-1285-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-007-1285-1