Isolation, characterization and outdoor cultivation of green microalgae Botryococcus sp.
Year: 2010
Type: article
Abstract: Samples of the green, colonial, unicellular microalgae Botryococcus sp. were collected from freshwater \nponds in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India. Specimens were isolated and examined for morphological \nfeatures using microscopic and scanning electron microscopic images and was found to be \nBotryococcus sp. The hydrocarbon analysis of its hexane extracts showed hexadecane (10.15%), \nheptadecane (17.82%) and pentacosane (18.74%) as its major hydrocarbons. Further, the 18S rRNA \nsequence (GU182893.1) analysis has confirmed its taxonomical relationship to the order \nTrebouxiophyceae and has shown similarities with the reported species of the genus Botryococcus and \nin particular to Botryococcus braunii. Based on morphological features and 18S rRNA sequence \nanalysis, the Indian isolate was designated as Botryococcus mahabali. Biomass analysis of B. mahabali \nshowed 19% proteins, 18% carbohydrates and 14% lipid. It was found that its oil comprised mainly of \nhexadecadienoic acid (16:2), oleic (18:1), linoleic (18:2), and linolenic acids (18:3) as its major fatty acids. \nOleic acid is recognized to be the major fatty acid in most of the reported species of the genus \nBotryococcus and thus it can serve as another significant chemical signature for the Indian isolate. Its \npigment profile exhibited lutein (41.57%) and �-carotene (37.96%) as major carotenoids. In view of its \nchemical profile, the algae was scaled up in open air raceway ponds in batch mode and the biomass \nyields were found to be 2 g/L (w/w) up on two weeks growth in outdoor raceway ponds. In conclusion, \nthe results of the study reveal that an Indian isolate B. mahabali can be of relevance for its prospective \napplications from food to biodiesel feed stock.
Source: CFTRI Institutional Repository
Language: English
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2148102444