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Sustainable production of biomass and biodiesel by acclimation of non-acidophilic microalgae to acidic conditions

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journal contribution
posted on 2025-05-11, 16:40 authored by Abinandan SudharsanamAbinandan Sudharsanam, Suresh SubashchandraboseSuresh Subashchandrabose, Nicole ColeNicole Cole, Rajarathnam Dharmarajan, Kadiyala Venkateswarlu, Megharaj MallavarapuMegharaj Mallavarapu
The overwhelming response towards algal biodiesel production has been well-recognized recently as a sustainable alternative to conventional fuels. Most microalgae cannot grow well at acidic pH. The present study, therefore, investigated whether non-acidophilic microalgae Desmodesmus sp. MAS1 and Heterochlorella sp. MAS3 can be acclimated to extreme-acidic pH for sustainable production of biomass and biodiesel. Growth analysis indicated that both the microalgal strains possessed a passive uptake of CO2 at pH 3.0 with biomass production of 0.25 g dry wt. L−1 in Desmodemus sp. and 0.45 g dry wt. L−1 in Heterochlorella sp.. Flow-cytometry analysis for reactive oxygen species, membrane permeability and neutral-lipids revealed the capabilities of both strains to adapt to the stress imposed by acidic pH. Lipid production was doubled in both the strains when grown at pH 3.0. In-situ transesterification of biomass resulted in 13–15% FAME yield in the selected microalgae, indicating their great potential in biofuel production.

History

Journal title

Bioresource Technology

Volume

271

Issue

January 2019

Pagination

316-324

Publisher

Elsevier

Language

  • en, English

College/Research Centre

Faculty of Science

School

Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER)