Biodiesel potentials of microalgal strains isolated from fresh water environment

Abstract

Continued reliance on diesel from fossil sources is not sustainable and detrimental to human, animal and plant existence owing to discharge of toxics and poisonous gasses. The present target is the new strains of microalgal from fish farm for diesel production through experimental screening processes. Water samples were collected from fish ponds in Owode-ede, Osun State Nigeria from which microalgae were isolated using algae culturing techniques. Isolates were screened for Lipid Production (LP) potential using Volumetric Lipid Productivity (VLP). Isolates with the higher LP were identified using morphological methods. Filtration, solvent extraction and gravimetric methods were employed for determination of biomass concentration, lipid extraction and quantification. Data recorded were analyzed using appropriate statistics. A total of 12 microalgal were obtained. They include Scenedesmus, Chlorella Crucigenia, Spirogyra. Oscillatoria, Chlamydomonas, Euglena. Cladophora, Closterium, Microcystis, Ankistrodesmus,and Pediastrum. The first two mentioned genera are the most promising isolates with high LP (51.43±0.84 and 45.38±1.67%) and VLP (257.25±5.29 and 181.52±0.89 mg/L/day). They are ideal isolates for production of microbial fuel.

Keywords

• Scenedesmus sp
• Chlorella sp
• Morphological identification
• Lipid production
• Volumetric productivity