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Photoautotrophic cultivation of oleaginous microalgae and co-pelletization with filamentous fungi for cost-effective harvesting process and improved lipid yield

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Abstract

Oleaginous microalga Scenedesmus obliquus SIT06 was selected as potential biodiesel feedstocks due to its high lipid content and suitable fatty acid composition for production of biodiesel with high oxidative stability and high cetane number. The important factors for cultivating microalgae in photoautotrophic mode were optimized through response surface methodology (RSM). The highest microalgal biomass obtained was 1.99 ± 0.12 g L−1 with a high lipid content of 40.86 ± 0.32%. To simplify harvesting process of microalgal cells, pellet-forming filamentous fungi were inoculated into the late log-phase of microalgae culture. Among the fungi tested, Cunninghamella echinulata TPU 4652 most effectively harvested the microalgal cells with the highest flocculation efficiency of 92.7%. Moreover, the biomass and lipids of microalgae-fungi pellets were as high as 4.45 ± 0.06 and 1.21 ± 0.08 g L−1, respectively. The extracted lipids were mainly composed of C16:0, C18:0, and C18:1, and their estimated fuel properties meet with the international standards indicating their potential use as biodiesel feedstocks. This study has shown the strategies not only to simplify the harvesting process but also to increase the lipid yield and tailor the lipid composition.

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Funding

This work was supported by Prince of Songkla University, Thailand and Toyama Prefectural University, Japan. The first author was financially supported by Thailand Research Fund under Grant PHD 58I0030 and Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO). The authors also thank Prof. Yasumasa Kuwahara, Prof. Hidenobu Komeda, Assist. Prof. Daisuke Matsui, and Mr. Aem Nuylert for their supports during the first author’s short-term research in Japan. The second and third authors are supported by Thailand Research Fund under Grant No. RTA 6080010.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biotechnology for Bioresource Utilization Laboratory, Department of Industrial Biotechnology, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Prince of Songkla University, Hatyai, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand

    Sirasit Srinuanpan, Benjamas Cheirsilp & Poonsuk Prasertsan

  2. Biotechnology Research Center and Department of Biotechnology, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu, Toyama, 939-0398, Japan

    Sirasit Srinuanpan, Yasuo Kato & Yasuhisa Asano

Authors
  1. Sirasit Srinuanpan
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  2. Benjamas Cheirsilp
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  3. Poonsuk Prasertsan
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  4. Yasuo Kato
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  5. Yasuhisa Asano
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Correspondence to Benjamas Cheirsilp.

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I testify on behalf of all co-authors that the manuscript has not been published in whole or in part elsewhere. The manuscript is not currently being considered for publication in another journal. All authors have been personally and actively involved in substantive work leading to the manuscript and will hold themselves jointly and individually responsible for its content.

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Srinuanpan, S., Cheirsilp, B., Prasertsan, P. et al. Photoautotrophic cultivation of oleaginous microalgae and co-pelletization with filamentous fungi for cost-effective harvesting process and improved lipid yield. Aquacult Int 26, 1493–1509 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-018-0300-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-018-0300-0

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