Mixotrophic cultivation of Chlamydomonas for value added biomass production: Valorization of organic acid rich spent effluent

Abstract

This study explored on evaluation of Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) profile of Chlamydomonas sp. strain TERI-1 biomass, grown mixotrophically in organic acid rich Spent Effluent (SE). Biomass productivity and FAME profile of TERI-1 strain was monitored along with its sugar and organic acid removal efficiency from SE. Maximum growth of Chlamydomonas TERI-1 strain was observed in two fold diluted (50% SE) SE. TERI-1 assimilated 10.33% sugar, 77.4% acetic acid and 6.80% butyric acid from 50% SE. FAME profile of TERI-1 biomass, cultivated in four fold diluted SE (25% SE) was composed of 21% unsaturated fatty acids and 1.8% saturated fatty acids. The unsaturated fatty acid pool was composed of 16% mono unsaturated fatty acids and 5.8% poly unsaturated fatty acid. FAME profile indicated that Chlamydomonas TERI-1 algal strain has potential for application in biodiesel production.

Keywords

• Spent effluent (SE)
• Chlamydomonas sp. TERI-1
• Mixotrophic
• Biomass
• Fatty acid profile