Screening microalgae native to Quebec for wastewater treatment and biodiesel production

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 157; pp. 140 - 148
• Main Authors: ABDELAZIZ, Ahmed E. M, LEITE, Gustavo B, BELHAJ, Mohamed A, HALLENBECK, Patrick C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier 01.04.2014
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biodiesel; Biofuel production; Biofuels - microbiology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Biotechnology; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fluorescence; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Lipids; Lipids - analysis; Microalgae - growth & development; Microalgae - metabolism; Nitrates - analysis; Nutrients; Phosphates - analysis; Pollution; Quebec; Screening; Strain; Waste water; Waste Water - microbiology; Wastewater treatment; Wastewaters; Water Purification - methods; Water treatment and pollution; Canada; North America; America; Quebec; Canada, Quebec, Montreal; Canada, Quebec; Screening; Algae; Biofuel; Alga; Indigenous species; Microorganism; Waste water purification; Biofuels; Biodiesel; Wastewater treatment; Native species
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.01.114

Biodiesel production from microalgae lipids is being considered as a potential source of renewable energy. However, practical production processes will probably require the use of local strains adapted to prevailing climatic conditions. This report describes the isolation of 100 microalgal strains from freshwater lakes and rivers located in the vicinity of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Strains were identified and surveyed for their growth on secondary effluent from a municipal wastewater treatment plant (La Prairie, QC, Canada) using a simple and high throughput microalgal screening method employing 12 well plates. The biomass and lipid productivity of these strains on wastewater were compared to a synthetic medium under different temperatures (10±2°C and 22±2°C) and a number identified that showed good growth at 10°C, gave a high lipid content (ranging from 20% to 45% of dry weight) or a high capacity for nutrient removal.