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Lipid productivity, settling potential and fatty acid profile of 11 microalgal species grown under nitrogen replete and limited conditions

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Abstract

Microalgae are a promising alternative source of oil for biodiesel production. Identification of a species with desirable characteristics is a key component towards achieving economic feasibility for the process. This has been compromised by a lack of data allowing effective interspecies comparison. Eleven species of microalgae, selected on the basis of available literature data, were tested for lipid productivity, gravity sedimentation and the suitability of their fatty acid profiles for biodiesel production. The response to nitrogen limitation was species-specific. Lipid yields and productivity were higher at 150 mg L−1 nitrate than at 1,500 mg L−1 for all species tested except Spirulina platensis. The Chlorophyta, particularly Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus, had the highest growth rates and showed the greatest increase in lipid content in response to nitrogen limitation. Cylindrotheca fusiformis, S. platensis, Scenedesmus and Tetraselmis suecica had the fastest settling rates and highest biomass recoveries after 24 h of gravity sedimentation. For most species, the fuel would need to be blended or culture conditions to be optimised to achieve the correct lipid profile in order for microalgal fuel to meet the European standards for biodiesel production (EN 14214). The most promising species overall were the freshwater algae Scenedesmus and C. vulgaris and the marine algae C. fusiformis and Nannochloropsis.

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Acknowledgements

The technical assistance of Christine Richardson and Frances Pocock is gratefully acknowledged. This work is based upon research supported by the South African National Energy Research Institute (SANERI) and the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) of the Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation (NRF). The financial assistance of these organisations is hereby acknowledged. Opinions expressed and conclusions arrived at are those of the authors and are not necessarily to be attributed to SANERI, SARChI or the NRF.

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  1. Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, Cape Town, South Africa

    Melinda J. Griffiths, Robert P. van Hille & Susan T. L. Harrison

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  1. Melinda J. Griffiths
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  2. Robert P. van Hille
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  3. Susan T. L. Harrison
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Correspondence to Susan T. L. Harrison.

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Fig. S1

Biomass concentration with time in five replicate cultures of Chlorella vulgaris. The average relative error between all five cultures across the growth cycle was <5% (PDF 23 kb)

Fig. S2

Biomass concentration (X) and lipid content (P) during a 14-day growth period for 11 species of microalgae under nitrogen replete (H, ●and ×) and limited (L, ○ and +) conditions (PDF 169 kb)

Fig. S3

Volumetric lipid content (PVOL) during a 14-day growth period for 11 species of microalgae under nitrogen replete (H, ●) and limited (L, ○) conditions (PDF 131 kb)

Fig. S4

Lipid productivity (QP) during a 14-day growth period for 11 species of microalgae under nitrogen replete (H, ●) and limited (L, ○) conditions (PDF 114 kb)

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Griffiths, M.J., van Hille, R.P. & Harrison, S.T.L. Lipid productivity, settling potential and fatty acid profile of 11 microalgal species grown under nitrogen replete and limited conditions. J Appl Phycol 24, 989–1001 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-011-9723-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-011-9723-y

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