Modeling and Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Nitrogen Starvation and Ph Variation on the Cultivation of the Extremophile Microalga Coccomyxa Melkonianii Scca048.

Abstract

The effects of nitrogen concentration and pH on the growth kinetics of the extremophile microalgal strain Coccomyxa melkonianii SCCA 048 in multiwell and batch photobioreactors are investigated in this work. Moreover, the experimental results were successfully interpreted by a simple, mathematical model which represents a starting point towards the development of a suitable tool for the design, control, and optimization of large scale photobioreactors where C. melkonianii would be cultivated. On the basis of fatty acids methyl esters (FAMEs) profile, potential properties of biodiesel have been predicted through suitable software.