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Optimisation of biomass and lipid production by adjusting the interspecific competition mode of Dunaliella salina and Nannochloropsis gaditana in mixed culture

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Abstract

The high cost of algal cultivation has been a barrier associated with the commercialisation of algal biodiesel. Therefore, this study aimed to enhance lipid production by optimising the nutrient supply to benefit the coexistence of Dunaliella salina and Nannochloropsis gaditana. The effects on biomass and lipid production of using different proportions of D. salina and N. gaditana, urea and NaHCO3 were optimised by response surface method with a 17-run Box–Behnken design. The optimal conditions for the algal growth are 58 % of D. salina in the mixture at OD680, 150 μL day−1 urea (0.0044 g day−1) and no addition of NaHCO3. The biomass concentration and lipid production reached 1.00 and 0.383 g L−1, respectively, which are exceeded by the amount before optimisation, indicating the efficiency of the model obtained by response surface method.

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank the China Scholarship Council for supporting this research financially, and also Dr. Jim Gilmour, Dr. Chen and Professor Catherine Biggs for laboratory assistance.

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  1. Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Mappin St, Sheffield, UK

    Junying Liu

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  1. Junying Liu
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Correspondence to Junying Liu.

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Liu, J. Optimisation of biomass and lipid production by adjusting the interspecific competition mode of Dunaliella salina and Nannochloropsis gaditana in mixed culture. J Appl Phycol 26, 163–171 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-013-0099-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-013-0099-z

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