Effect of nutrients on growth and lipid accumulation in the green algae Dunaliella tertiolecta

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 102; no. 2; pp. 1649 - 1655
• Main Authors: Chen, Meng, Tang, Haiying, Ma, Hongzhi, Holland, Thomas C., Ng, K.Y. Simon, Salley, Steven O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 2011; [New York, NY]: Elsevier Ltd; Elsevier
• Subjects: Algae; analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; biomass production; chemistry; Chlorophyta; Chlorophyta - drug effects; Chlorophyta - growth & development; Chlorophyta - metabolism; cobalt; Culture Media; Culture Media - pharmacology; drug effects; Dunaliella tertiolecta; Esters; Esters - analysis; Fatty acid composition; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; growth & development; iron; lipid content; Lipid Metabolism; Lipid Metabolism - drug effects; Lipids; manganese; metabolism; Microalgae; Microalgae - drug effects; Microalgae - growth & development; Microalgae - metabolism; Molybdenum; Nitrate; nitrate nitrogen; Nitrates; Nitrates - pharmacology; nitrogen; Nitrogen starvation; nutrient requirements; Nutrients; Oils; Oils - chemistry; Optimization; pharmacology; Phosphates; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds - pharmacology; starvation; Fatty acid composition; Nutrients; Nitrate; Nitrogen starvation; Dunaliella tertiolecta; Algae; Lipids; Nitrates; Chlorophyceae; Nitrogen; Nutrient starvation; Fatty acids; Chlorophyta; Nutrient; Chemical composition
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2010.09.062

Production of biofuel from algae is dependent on the microalgal biomass production rate and lipid content. Both biomass production and lipid accumulation are limited by several factors, of which nutrients play a key role. In this research, the marine microalgae Dunaliella tertiolecta was used as a model organism and a profile of its nutritional requirements was determined. Inorganic phosphate PO 4 3 - and trace elements: cobalt (Co 2+), iron (Fe 3+), molybdenum (Mo 2+) and manganese (Mn 2+) were identified as required for algae optimum growth. Inorganic nitrogen in the form of nitrate NO 3 - instead of ammonium (NH 4 +) was required for maximal biomass production. Lipids accumulated under nitrogen starvation growth condition and this was time-dependent. Results of this research can be applied to maximize production of microalgal lipids in optimally designed photobioreactors.