Abstract
In microalgae biotechnology, several strategies have been used aiming to increase biomass productivity and oil content, for example, by exploring novel bioreactor design and cultivation techniques. In the present study, the influence of stressing agents (sodium thiosulphate, sodium chloride, and glycerol), under nitrogen starvation, were evaluated for lipid accumulation in Neochloris oleoabundans. Additionally, different light regimes and the use of LED were also evaluated. The results showed that sodium thiosulfate, glycerol, and sodium chloride addition resulted in a reduction in biomass concentration, but, at the same time, an increase in lipid content. 2.5 mM of sodium thiosulfate provided the highest percentage of lipid content up to 44.7%. In a tubular photobioreactor, despite the twofold increase in biomass concentration, there was a decrease in lipid content, compared with cultures in Erlenmeyer flasks. Also, the use of white LED in combination with traditional fluorescent lamp (12 h:12 h) could efficiently replace 24 h light with fluorescent lamp for producing oil-rich N. oleoabundans biomass.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior), Finance Code 001, and FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo), Grant No. 10/51503-4.
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Avila-León, I.A., Matsudo, M.C., Ferreira-Camargo, L.S. et al. Evaluation of Neochloris oleoabundans as sustainable source of oil-rich biomass. Braz. J. Chem. Eng. 37, 41–48 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43153-020-00011-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43153-020-00011-3