Analyzing and
optimizing the carbon utilization and lipid yield at different light intensities
for Scenedesmus arcuatus
Vasumathi K., Nadana Raja Vadivu G., Nithiya E.M., Sundar K. and Premalatha M.
Res. J. Chem. Environ; Vol. 25(11); 1-10;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/2511rjce001010; (2021)
Abstract
Microalgae, the photosynthetic microorganism growing abundantly in marine and aquatic
ecosystems, are potential source for biological sequestration of CO2. The carbon
uptake differs in the presence of other nutrients, light intensity etc. The biomass
yield of Scenedesmus arcuatus var capitatus was studied based on the Face Centred
Central Composite design (FCCD) of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for nitrate,
phosphate and carbonate under different conditions (laboratory, room and sunlight
conditions). Various pre-treatments (osmotic shock, autoclaving, microwave and ultrasonication)
were employed to find the best method for maximum lipid yield.
The biomass yield reached a maximum of 1 g/L under sunlight conditions of nitrate
concentration 500 ppm and carbonate 2000 ppm. The laboratory conditions resulted
in a biomass yield of 0.59 g/L at 500 ppm nitrate, 1000 ppm carbonate and 250 ppm
phosphate. Under room conditions, the yield was very low (0.11 g/L). Osmotic shock
resulted in higher lipid yield than the other pre-treatment methods. The ability
of Scenedesmus arcuatus to uptake high carbon under sunlight conditions and to adapt
to high light intensity and fluctuations in light intensity concludes that this
species is suitable for large-scale open pond cultivation for CO2 sequestration
and production of metabolites.
