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Production of lipids in 10 strains of Chlorella and Parachlorella, and enhanced lipid productivity in Chlorella vulgaris

  • Bioenergy and biofuels
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Abstract

We tested 10 different Chlorella and Parachlorella strains under lipid induction growth conditions in autotrophic laboratory cultures. Between tested strains, substantial differences in both biomass and lipid productivity as well as in the final content of lipids were found. The most productive strain (Chlorella vulgaris CCALA 256) was subsequently studied in detail. The availability of nitrates and/or phosphates strongly influenced growth and accumulation of lipids in cells by affecting cell division. Nutrient limitation substantially enhanced lipid productivity up to a maximal value of 1.5 g l−1 day−1. We also demonstrated the production of lipids through large-scale cultivation of C. vulgaris in a thin layer photobioreactor, even under suboptimal conditions. After 8 days of cultivation, maximal lipid productivity was 0.33 g l−1 day−1, biomass density was 5.7 g l−1 dry weight and total lipid content was more than 30% dry weight. C. vulgaris lipids comprise fatty acids with a relatively high degree of saturation compared with canola oil offering a possible alternative to the use of higher plant oils.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Jana Kohoutková for the fatty acids analysis and Prof. John Brooker for editing the English. This work was supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic, projects no: 1M0571, 6046137305, and OE09025 (EUREKA), and by the institutional long-term research plan no. AV0Z60050516, funded by the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.

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  1. Algological Centre and Centre for Bioindication and Revitalization, Institute of Botany, v.v.i., Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Dukelská 135, Třeboň, 379 82, Czech Republic

    Pavel Přibyl & Vladislav Cepák

  2. Laboratory of the Cell Cycles of Algae, Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Opatovický mlýn, Třeboň, 379 81, Czech Republic

    Vilém Zachleder

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  1. Pavel Přibyl
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  2. Vladislav Cepák
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Correspondence to Pavel Přibyl.

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Přibyl, P., Cepák, V. & Zachleder, V. Production of lipids in 10 strains of Chlorella and Parachlorella, and enhanced lipid productivity in Chlorella vulgaris . Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 94, 549–561 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-012-3915-5

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