Cultivation of microalgae spirulina sp. in palm oil mill effluent for essential fatty acids production

Essential fatty acids providing health benefits and has increased the consumption as dietary supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids, usually derived from fatty fish, are present in animals, transgenic plants, fungi and many microorganisms, bringing excessive pressure on global fish stocks. Fortunately, microalgae are the primary which are rich in essential fatty acid and present a promising source of omega-3 fatty acid. The cost of nutrient media becomes an obstacle for cultivation of microalgae in larger industry. In this study, total 16 indigenous microalgae been identified and six monoculture of different species such as Amphora sp., Anabaena sp., Chlorella sp., Scenedesmus sp., Spirulina sp., and Tetraselmis sp., were isolated in laboratory environment by using serial dilution and streaking plate techniques from the marine sample collected East costal region of Kuantan, Pahang. These species were tested the growth and survivability in mixture of 5% (v/v) POME + conventional medium. Among these, Spirulina sp. shown higher growth and higher survivability while evaluating and chosen for further experiment. The growth of Spirulina sp. was tested by feeding POME as an only medium with different concentration (10-50% v/v) to maximize the biomass production. Followed with different effect of light intensities (1000-4000 lux) and temperature (21-36±2 ℃). The growth rate of Spirulina sp. was measured by biomass concentration (mg/L) and Chlorophyl content (µg/mL). The highest biomass production of Spirulina sp. was found in the optimum conditions of 30% v/v of POME, 3000 lux light intensity and 31±2 ℃ temperature with highest biomass yield 1.54±0.11 g/L after 18 days of cultivation. The biomass of Spirulina sp. was separated from the culture medium by centrifugation at 6000 g and dried at 70±3 ℃. Dried biomass was treated with hexane and extracted the highest lipid from Soxhlet extractor (44.9±6.1%) as compared to ultrasound assisted (32.3±6.5%) and Bligh and Dyer method (12.3±4.0%). The extracted lipids were trans esterified using methanolic KOH (1:1 v/v) for 120 min at 60±2℃ with aim of obtaining fatty acid methyl ester. Fatty acid methyl ester sample added with internal standard heptadecanoic acid which diluted with octane at 15 mg/ml. 1 µL of samples were analyzed using gas chromatography. Among 13 fatty acids found that, oleic acid (70.16%), palmitoleic acid (13.07%), linoleic acid (8.62%), and stearic acid (2.11%) and ℽ-linolenic acid (0.43%) as dominant fatty acids. Spirulina sp. lipid have great potential to be use in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical product due to its composition of essential fatty acids

Influence of photobioreactor on cultivation of tetraselmis sp. under various colors and light intensities for biodiesel production

In microalgae cultivation, artificial light sources have impactful influences on their growth pattern. The biomass production rate, lipid and pigment accumulation, fatty acid profile is observed in microalgae under various color of lights. Artificial lighting will enhance not just production but also the costs related with microalgae cultivation. Therefore, microalgae Tetraselmis sp. was cultivated in 20 L photobioreactor under different color (Blue= 490 nm, Green= 560 nm, Red=635 nm) with different light intensities (120, 240 and 480 μmol photon m-2s-1) at 24±2℃ for 15 days to determine the specific light absorption rate. The highest biomass 42.34 mg/L and lipid 35±2% was obtained under blue light with 240 μ mol photon m-2s-1 light intensity as compared to other lights. Palmitic acid and Stearic acids were dominant fatty acids which found from the lipid analysis. The observation proves that there is a compelling association between light colors, intensity, and the growth of microalgae

Biodegradation of polyethylene by microalgae Anabaena sp. and Chlorococcum sp.

These accumulations of used plastics like high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) cause environmental pollution in various way. Biological treating method can be an alternative of solution for reducing the accumulation of plastics in our environment. In this study, Plastic samples were pre-treated by placing under exposure of ultraviolet (320±10 nm) for 5 days continuously. Then, placed in the microalgae Anabaena sp. culture and Chlorococcum sp. culture for biological treatment for 21 days. FTIR and SEM been used and observed the functional group changes and surface changes on polyethylene. From the biological treatment between treated polyethylene and microalgae found that both microalgae shown well grown. In LDPE found greater growth of Chlorococcum sp. higher than Anabaena sp. HDPE does not shown any obvious changes in growth of microalgae. FTIR result shown the changes in mechanical structure of LDPE by reduction of ester groups -(C-C-O-C-C)- after biological treated with Chlorococcum sp. Visual changes as pattern of round rupture circle found on the surface of LDPE as compared HDPE which analyzed though FESEM result

Palm oil mill effluent for lipid production by the diatom thalassiosira pseudonana

Biomass and lipid production by the marine centric diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana were characterized in media based on palm oil mill effluent (POME) as a source of key nutrients. The optimal medium comprised 20% by volume POME, 80 µM Na2SiO3, and 35 g NaCl L−1 in water at pH ~7.7. In 15-day batch cultures (16:8 h/h light–dark cycle; 200 µmol photons m−2 s−1, 26 ± 1◦C) bubbled continuously with air mixed with CO2 (2.5% by vol), the peak concentration of dry biomass was 869 ± 14 mg L−1 corresponding to a productivity of ~58 mg L−1 day−1 . The neutral lipid content of the biomass was 46.2 ± 1.1% by dry weight. The main components of the esterified lipids were palmitoleic acid methyl ester (31.6% w/w) and myristic acid methyl ester (16.8% w/w). The final biomass concentration and the lipid content were affected by the light–dark cycle. Continuous (24 h light) illumination at the above-specified irradiance reduced biomass productivity to ~54 mg L−1 day−1 and lipid content to 38.1%

Biodiesel production by microalgae Nannochloropsis sp. grown in palm oil mill effluent

A marine microalga, Nannochloropsis sp., was discovered in a water body in Teluk Cempedak, Kuantan, Pahang. In Nannochloropsis sp., for biomass and lipid synthesis, POME was used as a substitute medium. The isolated monoculture was grown in various concentrations of POME (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%), as well as a standard control medium. Nannochloropsis sp. showed greater cell growth at 10% POME, with a maximum dry biomass of 1.504 g L-1 and extracted 35.9% lipid after 14 days of flask cultivation. Fatty acids namely oleic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid were shown to be prominent in GC-MS analysis. The fatty acid oleic acid has been discovered to be the most abundant (73.40%). POME has the prospective to be used as a growth media for the cultivation of microalgae Nannochloropsis sp

Plant polysaccharides for protein binding

Polysaccharides are polymeric carbohydrates that are made up of many monosaccharide units linked together by glycosidic linkages. They are architecturally complex biomacromolecules because of the different monosaccharides and their infinite ways to form the building blocks with each other

Cultivation of microalgae spirulina platensis biomass using palm oil mill effluent for phycocyanin productivity and future biomass refinery attributes

Palm oil mill effluent is a type of wastewater which contains a high concentration of organic nitrogen, phosphorus, and different supplement substances. These substances support and enhance the growth of microalgae. Cyanobacteria Spirulina platensis is a blue-green microalga with two phycobiliproteins as its primary constituents. Phycocyanin is a natural blue colourant used in biomedicines, cosmetics, diagnostics, treatments, and environmental protection. Chlorophyll pigment plays a significant role in photosynthesis where the photosynthetic process uses atmospheric carbon to produce starch and lipid which can eventually be converted into desirable products such as biodiesel. Therefore, in this study, Spirulina platensis was cultivated in different concentrations of diluted POME (10-50%, ) at °C room temperature, 90 μmol photon m-2 s-1, and aerated for 24 h continuously. The growth of Spirulina platensis was monitored through optical density at 680 nm for 15 days. The highest biomass yield obtained in the control medium and 30% POME medium were and  g/L, respectively. The highest phycocyanin yield obtained from the biomass harvested from 30% nutrient media was  mg and followed by  mg from control media with purified phycocyanin of  mg and  mg, respectively. The peak properties of phycocyanin such as the amide group at 1655.17 cm-1 (C=O stretching), FT-IR analysis revealed well-formed Spirulina platensis with all characteristic peaks and distinct fingerprints of phycocyanin. The ultrasound method produces the highest lipid yield (%) which consists of stearic (38.45%), palmitoleic (), and palmitic () fatty acid methyl esters. The FAME produced from the extracted lipid has the potential to be used in biodiesel applications. Since POME contains the essential nutrients which can support the growth of Spirulina platensis in the optimum environment for biomass and lipid productivity, it revealed the potential for biodiesel production

Acceleration of Lipid Accumulation in Oleaginous Diatom Navicula sp. Under Nitrogen Limitation

Diatom biomass gain attention globally as a source of lipid due to their high growth rate and biomass composition which can compete with fossil fuel for biodiesel production. Accumulations of natural lipid can be enhanced by various stress factors in diatoms. In this study, the effect of different nitrogen concentration on biomass and lipid production was investigated by cultivation of oleaginous diatom Navicula sp. for biodiesel production. The cultivation performed in phases where initially the culture was cultured in standard media for seven day and followed in different concentration of nitrogen such as limitation (0.35 mM), standard as media (1.76 mM), Repletion (3.5 mM) and free of nitrogen (0 mM) as second phase for eight days. The cells were grown under light intensity of 150 μmol photon m-2s-1(12:12 h day: light period) temperature (21±1 °C). Diatom Navicula sp. Showed highest growth and biomass production (734±15 mg/L) in nutrient f/2 standard media and extracted 19% of lipid. However, 24% of lipid yield was extracted which is significantly high from the biomass (528±10 mg/L) cultured in limited nitrogen media. Nitrogen limitation enhanced the fatty acid as saturated fatty acid C16:0, unsaturated fatty acid C16:1 and polyunsaturated fatty acid C18:3. Navicula sp., have potential to accumulate lipid in nitrogen limitation condition biodiesel production

Impact of biomass density on growth rates of spirulina platensis under distinct light spectra

Light is the core environmental factor that affects the growth and biomass production of microalgae. However, the high density of microalgae will lead to reduction of the growth rate of microalgae culture due to availability of light decreases. Therefore, this experiment was conducted with aim of determining the influence of biomass density on growth of Spirulina platensis under different density of culture and LED lights. The result found that, the growth rate Spirulina platensis was reduced under high biomass density (9:1) due to lacking light penetration into the culture. However, white LED helps maintain the light acclimation process in the cells. Light spectra enhance the growth biomass. However white light contains all the light spectra highly contribute to the biomass production. The maximum light was penetrated into the culture due to minimal density of culture. More light was observed by the cells. Photosynthetic microalage may frequently experience irradiance fluctuations of one to two orders of magnitude in the natural environment. Microalgae have created several acclimation mechanisms to deal with such shifts

Agriculture of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris for polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) production employing palm oil mill effluents (POME) for future food, wastewater, and energy nexus

Malaysia is one of the second largest world palm oil exporters; correspondingly, the massive production of palm oil mill effluent (POME) is a significant concern. The present investigation aimed to isolate and characterize the potential microalgae and maximize the growth and biomass productivity of Chlorella sp. using POME. Chlorella vulgaris was cultured in BG-11 (control) and POME with 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 dilution ratios. Binary solvent extraction was applied to extract lipids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the fatty acid methyl ethers were determined using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results suggest the lipid level of 21 wt.% was the highest amount obtained from biomass Chlorella vulgaris cultivated in 1:4 diluted POME. Chlorella sp. in POME with a 1:4 dilution ratio gives the highest biomass yield. It also yields the maximum dry cell weight of 0.42 g/L. Therefore, this study indicates that diluted POME with different dilutions is a suitable growth medium for Chlorella vulgaris biomass cultivation. Pairing wastewater with algae culture reduces biomass production and water treatment costs. Further studies demand more attention for future food, wastewater, and energy nexus