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Heterotrophic growth and oil production from Micractinium sp. ME05 using molasses

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Abstract

In this study the thermo-resistant green alga Micractinium sp. ME05 was cultivated in media containing molasses as a carbon source. Shake flask experiments and 2-L bioreactor experiments were conducted at different inoculum ratios, aeration rates, and agitation speeds. The experimental condition which resulted in the highest biomass concentration (3.73 ± 0.45 g L−1) with 10% inoculum in 500-mL flasks was scaled up to 2-L flasks at two aeration rates (0.25 and 0.5 L min−1). An increase in biomass concentration from 2.35 ± 0.53 to 3.06 ± 0.21 g L−1 was observed with an increase of aeration rate from 0.25 to 0.50 L min−1, which demonstrated significant effect of aeration rate on biomass concentration (p = 0.000 < 0.05). In 2-L bioreactor experiments, highest biomass productivity (0.53 ± 0.076 g L−1 day−1) and lipid productivity (7.7 ± 1.6 g L−1 day−1) were obtained with 5% (v/v) inoculum and 50 rpm agitation speed. The principal fatty acids were palmitic acid (C16:0) and linoleic acid (C18:2) comprising 30.2 ± 1.01 and 45.2 ± 1.32% of the total fatty acid content, respectively. Thus, the present study highlights the possibility of using molasses for biomass and lipid production with Micractinium sp. ME05 under different cultivation conditions. Using low cost feedstock such as molasses would be valuable in terms of evaluating waste materials for further biodiesel production.

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Acknowledgements

This study was carried out at the Middle East Technical University (METU) Biology Department Plant Biotechnology Laboratory and METU Food Engineering Department Bioprocess Laboratory. We would like to thank Asst. Prof. Dr. Melih Onay for his isolation and characterization of microalgal species used in this study.

Funding

This study was funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) Project Number 114Z487).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Middle East Technical University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey

    Iskin Kose Engin, Ayse Meral Yücel & Huseyin Avni Oktem

  2. Central Laboratory, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Middle East Technical University, R&D 11 Center, 06800, Ankara, Turkey

    Iskin Kose Engin

  3. Departmenf of Food Engineering, Middle East Technical University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey

    Deniz Cekmecelioglu

  4. Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, 06800, Ankara, Turkey

    Ayse Meral Yücel & Huseyin Avni Oktem

  5. Nanobiz Ltd. METU-Technopolis, Ankara, Turkey

    Huseyin Avni Oktem

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  1. Iskin Kose Engin
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  2. Deniz Cekmecelioglu
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  3. Ayse Meral Yücel
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Correspondence to Huseyin Avni Oktem.

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Engin, I.K., Cekmecelioglu, D., Yücel, A.M. et al. Heterotrophic growth and oil production from Micractinium sp. ME05 using molasses. J Appl Phycol 30, 3483–3492 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-018-1486-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-018-1486-2

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