Growth of Chlorella Minutissima Microalgae from Fruit Waste Extract for Biodiesel Production

Abstract

AbstractFruit peel extracts are ample source of several nutrients such as minerals and carbon, necessary for microalgal cultivation. In the present study, fruit (orange and banana) peel extracts are utilized as a source of essential inorganic and organic supplements for the cultivation of microalgae. Chemical composition of fruit (orange and banana) peel extract was determined by AAS analysis and elemental analysis. The HPLC analysis discloses that the obtained extracts contains major quantity of glucose and fructose. The presence of number of functional groups was observed by the FTIR analysis. Chlorella minutissima was used as the microalgae strain for the culture of algal biomass. For each prepared media, the fixed algae concentrations were incubated in seven different concentrations ratios 1:2.5, 1:5, 1:7, 1:10, 1:15, 1:20 and 1:25. The growth of algae in media of both the fruit peel extracts was detected by spectroscopy. Furthermore, Nile red staining method through fluorescence microscopy was carried out to estimate the lipid accumulation and found that the lipid accumulation is higher in banana peel media. GC-MS analysis of transformed FAME biodiesel demonstrates the high content of essential fatty acids.Graphical Abstract KeywordsChlorella minutissima microalgaeOrange and banana peel extractsGC-MSHPLCFAME biodiesel