Effects of culture temperature and light regimes on biomass and lipid accumulation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii under carbon-rich and nitrogen-limited conditions

Abstract

This study investigated the impacts of various culture temperatures and light regimes on growth and biochemical constituents of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii under carbon-supply and nitrogen-limited conditions to improve oil production in algal cells. Results displayed that under a 30 ℃ and 150 μE/m2/s regime, there was a significant increase in biomass, total lipids, and lipid productivity. Specifically, these parameters reached 1.83 g/L, 36.25 %, and 130.73 mg/L/d, respectively. Remarkably, prolonging the photoperiod further enhanced the aforementioned three parameters, reaching peak levels of 1.92 g/L, 41.10 %, and 157.54 mg/L/d, respectively, recorded at a 24/0h photoperiod. Compared with cultures grown under normal conditions, these values displayed increments of 1.21-fold, 74.88 %, and 3.01-fold, respectively. Additionally, under optimal conditions, the soluble sugar content reached 79.72 mg/g, and the biodiesel properties were improved. These findings indicate that moderately increasing temperature, light intensity, and photoperiod could achieve the co-production of biomass, lipids, and sugars in C. reinhardtii.