Evaluation and Characterization of Microalgae from Kalaburagi Region as a Potential Source of Biomass Production

Abstract

Microalgaes are considered for a large number of applications such as biomass and energy production due to their increased capability of biomass production. Various biotic and abiotic factors influence the growth of microalgae. Among the abiotic factors include the temperature, light intensity, pH of the medium, salinity, and nutritional conditions play the major role. Ten samples of microalgae were collected from different sites of water bodies from Gulbarga University campus. The microalgae isolated were identified and characterized using light microscope, SEM and PCR based 18s rRNA. Influence of cultural conditions such as carbon and nitrogen sources, pH, temperature and salinity on biomass production were studied and analyzed. Among the strains identified, a novel species was isolated and identified as Scenedesmus vacuolatus AK1. The maximum growth rate and biomass productivity can be achieved by providing glucose as carbon source and urea as nitrogen sources at an optimum of 0.5gm/l and 0.1mg/l irrespectively. It was also observed that the strain showed a good growth profile and increase in biomass production at an optimum alkaline pH of 8. Maximum biomass productivity of 0.6g/l was observed at an optimum temperature of 30˚C in BG-11 medium. Maximum biomass yield of 1.45g/l was observed at 5mM NaCl concentration.