Enhancement of Biomass, Lipid and Hydrocarbon Production from Green Microalga, Botryococcus braunii AARL G037, by UV-C Induction
Theera Thurakit, Chayakorn Pumas, Wasu Pathom-aree, Jeeraporn Pekkoh and Yuwadee Peerapornpisal* Author for corresponding; e-mail address: jeeraporn.p@cmu.ac.th, yuwadee.p@cmu.ac.th
Volume: Vol.45 NO.7 (November 2018)
Research Article
DOI:
Received: 14 Febuary 2018, Revised: -, Accepted: 27 April 2018, Published: -
Citation: Thurakit T., Pumas C., Pathom-aree W., Pekkoh J. and Peerapornpisal Y., Enhancement of Biomass, Lipid and Hydrocarbon Production from Green Microalga, Botryococcus braunii AARL G037, by UV-C Induction, Chiang Mai Journal of Science, 2018; 45(7): 2637-2651.
Abstract
Botryococcus braunii, a green microalga, has been acknowledged as a possible source of renewable fuel that holds significant potential. However, it has been associated with a slow growth rate and low productivity. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ultraviolet (UV)-C on B. braunii AARL G037 for the purposes of improving biomass, lipid and hydrocarbon production levels. The survival rate was found to be in a range of 0.66-12.54% after being exposed to UV-C radiation for 3-21 minutes. The highest level of biomass production was acquired from UV-C induced isolate no. U18J10 at 2,325.67 mg L-1 and was equivalent to 1.32 times higher than the wild type. The highest hydrocarbon and lipid contents were found in B. braunii U18N14, which were recorded at 76.03% and 34.00%, respectively. Meanwhile, wild type, B. braunii AARL G037 accumulated hydrocarbons and lipids at only 45.81% and 22.70%, respectively. A study on the biodiesel properties revealed that 9-octadecanoic acid, methyl ester (C18:1) was the major fatty acid methyl ester. Moreover, biodiesel properties acquired from B. braunii wild type and all UV-C induced isolates were conformed to the EN14214 standard.