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•The nitrogen stress affects morphology and biochemical composition of microalgae.•Scenedesmus sp. is able to grow at 80% reduction in nitrate compared to BG-11.•Complete nitrate ...starvation gives 45.74% carbohydrate & 27.93% lipid accumulation.•Scenedesmus sp. is a potential feed stock for biodiesel and bio-ethanol production.•De-oiled biomass of Scenedesmus sp. can be used for bio-ethanol production.
The aim of present study was to investigate the effects of nitrogen limitation as well as sequential nitrogen starvation on morphological and biochemical changes in Scenedesmus sp. CCNM 1077. The results revealed that the nitrogen limitation and sequential nitrogen starvation conditions significantly decreases the photosynthetic activity as well as crude protein content in the organism, while dry cell weight and biomass productivity are largely unaffected up to nitrate concentration of about 30.87mg/L and 3days nitrate limitation condition. Nitrate stress was found to have a significant effect on cell morphology of Scenedesmus sp. CCNM 1077. Total removal of nitrate from the growth medium resulted in highest lipid (27.93%) and carbohydrate content (45.74%), making it a potential feed stock for biodiesel and bio-ethanol production. This is a unique approach to understand morphological and biochemical changes in freshwater microalgae under nitrate limitation as well as sequential nitrate removal conditions.
•Microalga Scenedesmus obliquus FSP-3 is a suitable candidate for lutein production.•Light-related strategies are effective in improving lutein production of microalgae.•White LED resulted in better ...lutein production efficiency among all the LEDs tested.•TL5 lamp at a light intensity of 300μmol/m2/s was preferable for lutein production.•The lutein productivity obtained (4.08mg/L/d) is better than the reported values.
Lutein, one of the main photosynthetic pigments, is a promising natural product with both nutritional and pharmaceutical applications. In this study, light-related strategies were applied to enhance the cell growth and lutein production of a lutein-rich microalga Scenedesmus obliquus FSP-3. The results demonstrate that using white LED resulted in better lutein production efficiency when compared to the other three monochromatic LEDs (red, blue, and green). The lutein productivity of S. obliquus FSP-3 was further improved by adjusting the type of light source and light intensity. The optimal lutein productivity of 4.08mg/L/d was obtained when using a TL5 fluorescent lamp at a light intensity of 300μmol/m2/s, and this performance is better than that reported in most related studies. Moreover, the time-course profile of lutein accumulation in the microalga shows that the maximal lutein content and productivity were obtained at the onset of nitrogen depletion.
Microalgae represent one of the most promising groups of candidate organisms for replacing fossil fuels with contemporary primary production as a renewable source of energy. Algae can produce many ...times more biomass per unit area than terrestrial crop plants, easing the competing demands for land with food crops and native ecosystems. However, several aspects of algal biology present unique challenges to the industrial‐scale aquaculture of photosynthetic microorganisms. These include high susceptibility to invading aquatic consumers and weeds, as well as prodigious requirements for nutrients that may compete with the fertiliser demands of other crops. Most research on algal biofuel technologies approaches these problems from a cellular or genetic perspective, attempting either to engineer or select algal strains with particular traits. However, inherent functional trade‐offs may limit the capacity of genetic selection or synthetic biology to simultaneously optimise multiple functional traits for biofuel productivity and resilience. We argue that a community engineering approach that manages microalgal diversity, species composition and environmental conditions may lead to more robust and productive biofuel ecosystems. We review evidence for trade‐offs, challenges and opportunities in algal biofuel cultivation with a goal of guiding research towards intensifying bioenergy production using established principles of community and ecosystem ecology.
•More than sixty studies on microalgae exposure to the different nanoparticles that may be present in the aquatic environment.•Parameters and techniques for monitoring effects on microalgae resulting ...from interaction with nanoparticles are described.•In the literature, there is no consensus on evidence of nanomaterial toxicity with regard to microalgae.•A comparison of nanoparticle types appears essential in order to prioritize which factors mostly influence the toxicity.
Widespread use of nanoparticles for different applications has diffused their presence in the environment, particularly in water. Many studies have been conducted to evaluate their effects on aquatic organisms. Microalgae are at the base of aquatic trophic chains. These organisms which can be benthic or pelagic, meaning that they can enter into interaction with all kinds of particulate materials whatever their density, and constitute an interesting model study. The purpose of this review was to gather more than sixty studies on microalgae exposure to the different nanoparticles that may be present in the aquatic environment. After a brief description of each type of nanoparticle (metals, silica and plastic) commonly used in ecotoxicological studies, techniques to monitor their properties are presented. Then, different effects on microalgae resulting from interaction with nanoparticles are described as well as the parameters and techniques for monitoring them. The impacts described in the literature are primarily shading, ions release, oxidative stress, adsorption, absorption and disruption of microalgae barriers. Several parameters are proposed to monitor effects such as growth, photosynthesis, membrane integrity, biochemical composition variations and gene expression changes. Finally, in the literature, while different impacts of nanoparticles on microalgae have been described, there is no consensus on evidence of nanomaterial toxicity with regard to microalgae. A parallel comparison of different nanoparticle types appears essential in order to prioritize which factors exert the most influence on toxicity in microalgae cultures: size, nature, surface chemistry, concentration or interaction time.
The versatile use of biopigments in food, feed, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and analytical industries emphasized to find different and renewable sources of biopigments. Microalgae, including ...cyanobacteria, are becoming a potential candidate for pigment production as these have fast-growing ability, high pigment content, highly variable and also have "Generally recognized as safe" status. These algal groups are known to produce different metabolites that include hormones, vitamins, biopolythene and biochemicals. We discuss here the potential use of microalgal biopigments in our daily life as well as in food and cosmetic industries. Pigment like carotenoids has many health benefits such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties and also provide photo-protection against UV radiation. This review details the effect of various abiotic and biotic factors such as temperature, light, nutrition on maximizing the pigment content in the microalgal cell. This review also highlights the potential of microalgae, whether in present native or engineered strain including the many metabolic strategies which are used or can be used to produce a higher amount of these valuable biopigments. Additionally, future challenges in the context of pigment production have also been discussed.
► An indigenous C. vulgaris FSP-E isolate exhibits high potential as sugar producer. ► Microalgal growth is improved by properly adjusting light intensity and inoculum size. ► Nitrogen starvation is ...very effective in promoting carbohydrate accumulation. ► The carbohydrate profile of the microalga is suitable for bioethanol fermentation.
In this study, three indigenous microalgae isolates were examined for their ability to produce carbohydrates. Among them, Chlorella vulgaris FSP-E displayed relatively high cell growth rate and carbohydrate content. The carbohydrate productivity of C. vulgaris FSP-E was further improved by using engineering strategies. The results show that using an appropriate light intensity and inoculum size could effectively promote cell growth and carbohydrate productivity. Nitrogen starvation triggered the accumulation of carbohydrates in the microalga, achieving a carbohydrate content of 51.3% after 4-day starvation. Under the optimal conditions, the highest biomass and carbohydrate productivity were 1.437 and 0.631gL−1d−1, respectively. This performance is better than that reported in most related studies. Since glucose accounted for nearly 93% of the carbohydrates accumulated in C. vulgaris FSP-E, the microalga is an excellent feedstock for bioethanol fermentation.
•Microalga mutated by nuclear radiation was used to remove pollutants from effluent.•Continuous introduction of 15% (v/v) CO2 supplemented deficient carbon in effluent.•Adding P to effluent and ...aeration before inoculation improved microalgal growth.•Biomass yield and growth rate were increased to 4.81gL−1 and 601.2mgL−1d−1.•Removal efficiencies of COD, NH3–N and TP from effluent were increased to 73–95%.
Growth rate of the microalga Chlorella PY-ZU1 mutated by nuclear irradiation was optimised for use in the purification of undiluted anaerobic digestion effluent of swine manure (UADESM) with 3745mgL−1 chemical oxygen demand (COD) and 1135mgL−1 total nitrogen content. The problem of accessible carbon in UADESM was solved by continuous introduction of 15% (v/v) CO2. Adding phosphorus to UADESM and aeration of UADESM before inoculation both markedly reduced the lag phase of microalgal growth. In addition, the biomass yield and average growth rate of Chlorella PY-ZU1 increased significantly to 4.81gL−1 and 601.2mgL−1d−1, respectively, while the removal efficiencies of total phosphorus, COD and ammonia nitrogen increased to 95%, 79% and 73%, respectively. Thus, the findings indicate that Chlorella PY-ZU1 can be used for effective purification of UADESM, while the biomass can be safely used as animal feed supplement.
The rapid increase of CO2 concentration in the atmosphere combined with depleted supplies of fossil fuels has led to an increased commercial interest in renewable fuels. Due to their high biomass ...productivity, rapid lipid accumulation, and ability to survive in saline water, microalgae have been identified as promising feedstocks for industrial-scale production of carbon-neutral biodiesel. This study examines the principles involved in lipid extraction from microalgal cells, a crucial downstream processing step in the production of microalgal biodiesel. We analyze the different technological options currently available for laboratory-scale microalgal lipid extraction, with a primary focus on the prospect of organic solvent and supercritical fluid extraction. The study also provides an assessment of recent breakthroughs in this rapidly developing field and reports on the suitability of microalgal lipid compositions for biodiesel conversion.
Biologically derived fuels are viable alternatives to traditional fossil fuels, and microalgae are a particularly promising source, but improvements are required throughout the production process to ...increase productivity and reduce cost. Metabolic engineering to increase yields of biofuel-relevant lipids in these organisms without compromising growth is an important aspect of advancing economic feasibility. We report that the targeted knockdown of a multifunctional lipase/phospholipase/acyltransferase increased lipid yields without affecting growth in the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana . Antisense-expressing knockdown strains 1A6 and 1B1 exhibited wild-type–like growth and increased lipid content under both continuous light and alternating light/dark conditions. Strains 1A6 and 1B1, respectively, contained 2.4- and 3.3-fold higher lipid content than wild-type during exponential growth, and 4.1- and 3.2-fold higher lipid content than wild-type after 40 h of silicon starvation. Analyses of fatty acids, lipid classes, and membrane stability in the transgenic strains suggest a role for this enzyme in membrane lipid turnover and lipid homeostasis. These results demonstrate that targeted metabolic manipulations can be used to increase lipid accumulation in eukaryotic microalgae without compromising growth.
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