Using fluazifop‐p‐butyl for low cost increases in lipid accumulation for the generation of algal biofuels from Chlorella vulgaris

Abstract

The demand for sustainable, low‐emission fuels is increasing with the global expansion of industrialization. Biofuels have the potential to meet this need without the problematic addition of carbon into the earth's atmosphere. Algae, a potential biofuels feedstock, have the capability to quickly accumulate biomass under various conditions, including low‐nutritional growth medium and a reduced need for arable land. Current research is seeking to increase organismal efficiency in order to increase economic feasibility. Previous work has shown that exposing algae to environmental stressors or limitations, such as nitrogen deprivation, can increase lipid production in the cultures, though this is typically accompanied by a decrease in overall biomass. Nitrogen deprivation is also expensive to facilitate, so finding more economical methods is paramount to increasing algal biofuel feasibility. In this study, Chlorella vulgaris, a unicellular green alga, was exposed to a formulation of an inexpensive and readily available mass‐produced herbicide that targets acetyl Co‐A carboxylase with its active ingredient, fluazifop‐p‐butyl. The compositional changes of the algae cultures were monitored as well as the photosynthetic efficiency. Preliminary results have shown an increase in percent lipids in cultures exposed to the herbicide formulation, though the overall biomass decreased. Current results in this study will be presented.Support or Funding InformationThis research was made possible by NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium, Training Grant # NNX15AI01HThis material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Cooperative Agreement No. OIA‐1458952This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.