Characterization of Local Algal Strain for Possible Lipids and Bioactive Compounds Production /

Abstract

Green microalgae are potential candidate for fulfilling future energy demands along with conserving nature. Microalgae is good source of lipids and some essential bio active compounds like carotenoids, alkaloids, phycobilins and other proteins etc. but according to a Research under the Department of Energy Aquatic Species Program during 1978-1996 concluded that cultivating algae for biofuels was cost prohibitive at that time and that an integrated approach should be studied that combined algal biofuel production with other goals like environment and other products to make it a viable option. In this research our main goals was first to capture carbon dioxide from algae using local algal strain by large raceway pond system and to cut down the cost of algae products by designing cheap algal media which will definitely help this technology to become more adoptive. Presently algae are being cultured with conventional medias which are available in pure form and are much costly. These conventional medias significantly increase the cost of algal products and even sometimes large scale production becomes impossible due to heavy cost of media. A feasibility study was conducted for installing algae production facility at local industry using Industrial Emissions (CO2) as a carbon source. To meet the cost issues, raceway pond design were chosen to best fit in local environment. A comprehensive design study of raceway pond was conducted to make it economically viable, and a cheap nutrient media was also designed using commercial grade nutrients., A local algal strain, initially isolated and named as KKL5 and later identified as Dictyosphaerium 8-6 by Macrogen Inc. was used to carry out all these studies. A number of experiments were performed in series to provide local algae with essential nutrients from cheap sources like agricultural fertilizers, market available multivitamins and egg proteins. The algal growth parameters were checked regularly and effects of cheap nutrient sources onproductivity of lipids, carotenoids and phycobiliproteins were also noted using UV spectrophotometeric techniques. All results were compared with a standard culture (Bold’s Basal Medium). A best recipe of media was screened out with results as competitive as Bolds’ Basal media.