Two <i>Mychonastes</i> isolated from freshwater bodies are novel potential feedstocks for biodiesel production

<p>Microalgae have been considered as ideal feedstocks for biodiesel production but the potential application is still under investigations. Here, eight kinds of microalgae were identified from water samples based on the morphologic and phylogenetic analyses. Among these eight microalgae, two <i>Mychonastes</i> S4 and S15 exhibited relative faster growth rate in the early culture stage and the highest contents of lipids. The two <i>Mychonastes</i> also showed higher C18:1 contents than the two <i>Chlorella</i> which were traditionally considered to be potential species for biodiesel production. As one kind of less researched microalgae, this study suggests <i>Mychonastes</i> should be a potential feedstock for biodiesel production. The application of the microalgal biodiesel still have some limiting factors, however, it is promising based on better lipid extraction technology and more relevant studies.</p