PRODUCTION OF OIL FROM FRESHWATER AND MARINE WATER MICROALGAE FOR BIODIESEL PRODUCTION

Abstract

The growth and oil content of Chlorella saccharophila (freshwater) and Tetraselmis suecica (marine) microalgae were investigated using various nutrient types (ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium sulfate and combination of nutrients), light durations (9 h, 16 h and 24 h) and carbon sources (NaHCO3 and CO2). The results indicated that T. suecica produced higher cell yields compared to the C. saccharophila under all parameters tested. Light exposure of 24 h illustrated the highest biomass yields. The combination of nutrients resulted in the highest growth for both species of microalgae. However, high growth did not necessarily result in high lipid yields, which need to be considered when oil is used as feedstock for biodiesel production. Oil yield using NaHCO3 were much higher for C. saccharophila as opposed to T. suecica, but biomass yields were much higher for T. suecica as opposed to C. saccharophila.