Abstract
Twenty-five (25) strains of microalgae were isolated and screened for growth, lipid accumulation and biodiesel production from arid environments of North East Nigeria. Isolates that produced biomass concentration (≥ 1.50 g L -1 cell dry weight), accumulated high concentrations of lipids (≥ 18% of the cell biomass) and could be purified on agar plates were selected for further studies. Four strains morphologically identified as Oocystis IA1, Chlorella IA7, Chlorococcum KA9 and Botyrococcus YA5 were selected. The maximum biomass concentrations (g L -1 ) and lipid contents (%) were 3.02, 3.92, 3.59 and 2.89, and 57, 67.23, 63 and 65 dry cell weights for Oocystis IA1, Chlorella IA7, Chlorococcum KA9 and Botyrococcus YA5, respectively. The highest oil productivities (mg L -1 day -1 ) were 135.28 ± 3.32 ( Oocystis IA1), 165.22 ± 3.36 ( Chlorella IA7), 131.76 ± 1.11 ( Chlorococcum KA9) and 140.37 ± 2.13 ( Botyrococcus YA5). Maximum chlorophyll contents (g g -1 cell) were 34.97, 30.00, 39.71 and 32.27, respectively. Fatty acid methyl ester profiles indicated the presence of C16:0, C16:1, C18:0, C18:1, and C18:2. Oleic acid (C18: 1) was predominant, ranging between 73.3 and 85.6%. Biodiesel properties were within the ASTM standards. The present study suggested that the four isolates are good for biodiesel production. Keywords: Biodiesel, Chlorella , Chlorococcum , Botyrococcus sp., lipid accumulation, microalgae, Oocystis . Abbreviation: FAME, Fatty acids methyl esters.
Highlights
There is a perceptible problem of oil crisis in Nigeria and many other parts of the world
Four strains morphologically identified as Oocystis IA1, Chlorella IA7, Chlorococcum KA9 and Botyrococcus YA5 were selected
The microalgae Oocystis IA1, Chlorella IA7, Chlorococcum KA9 and Botyrococcus YA5 were superior to other isolates of this same study on the ground of sustained growth and lipid accumulating capabilities
Summary
There is a perceptible problem of oil crisis in Nigeria and many other parts of the world. Fossil fuel is associated with global warming and climate change They are non-renewable, cause pollution, and their prices steadily increase in many countries of the world. In this respect, first-generation biofuels made from sugar, starch, vegetable oil or animal fats using conventional technology were practical alternatives. They have 15 to 300 times more oil production than conventional crops on a per-area basis (Li et al, 2010). They can grow on saline and hyper-saline water, and there is less dependency on freshwater (Sing et al, 2013). Effort was made to isolate oil-producing strains from arid region of North East Nigeria
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