A Push–Pull Strategy to Enhance Biomass and Lipid Production in Nannochloropsis oculata
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The high demand for sustainable biodiesel feedstocks has led to the exploration of innovative strategies to enhance lipid productivity in microalgae. This study introduces a push-pull strategy to optimize lipid accumulation in Nannochloropsis oculata. The benzyl amino purine (BAP) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) stimulation, acting as the 'push' component, significantly boost growth and nutrient-stress tolerance. Meanwhile, the 'pull' component, nitrogen (N) deficiency, triggers lipid biosynthesis. A Box-Behnken design was employed to optimize the factors named BAP fraction (0-1), total phytohormone (PH) BAP/NAA mix dose (0-20 ppm), and N-concentration (0-50%). The combined BAP/NAA treatment not only significantly increased biomass (15% higher than the control) but also mitigated N-stress with higher doses (20 ppm). Lipid yield surged from 12.4% to 38.87% under optimized conditions (23.25% N, 39.5 ppm NAA, and BAP fraction 0). The push-pull strategy contributed to boosting lipid synthesis and balancing biomass production. N-limitation and total PH dosage were the determining factors in this strategy. This work demonstrates the potential of the push-pull strategy in increasing lipid accumulation, offering a promising and optimistic solution for biodiesel production at scale from microalgae. By reducing dependence on fossil fuels, N. oculata emerges as a confident feedstock for oil extraction and biodiesel.
Source: Microorganisms
Institution: Instituto Politécnico Nacional
Language: English
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,258
Funder: Instituto Politécnico Nacional
Award: G427245567
OpenAlex ID: W4410411567