Environmental controls on growth and lipid content for the freshwater diatom, Fragilaria capucina: A candidate for biofuel production

Justin D. Chaffin, Sasmita Mishra, Rachel M. Kuhaneck, Scott A. Heckathorn, Thomas B. Bridgeman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

The use of microalgae for biofuel production has the potential to reduce fossil fuel consumption. Ideal candidate species of microalgae for bio-oil production need both relatively high growth rates and lipid content. Here, we report on the effects of temperature, nutrients (N, Si), and salinity on growth rates and lipid content of the common freshwater diatom, Fragilaria capucina (Desm), isolated from western Lake Erie. At low NaCl salinity, growth rate increased rapidly from 10 to 20°C, and then further increased slowly from 20 to 30°C, with a maximum specific growth rate of 0. 61 day -1. Growth rate declined with increasing salinity (e. g., reduced by ca. 50 and 100% at 137 and 274 mmol L -1 NaCl, respectively), and increased with increased N and Si concentration until ca. 100 μmol L -1 for each (with >85% of maximum growth rate at 10 μmol L -1). Lipid content (% total lipid per dry mass) in nutrient-replete cultures was 14% and (1) increased to >30% at low N and, especially, low Si; (2) was lower at 30°C vs. 20 or 10°C; and (3) decreased with salinity. Thus, F. capucina accumulates lipid to high levels even under N, Si, and temperature levels that permit a high growth rate for this species, and hence, this species is a candidate for use in biofuel production.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1045-1051
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Applied Phycology
Volume24
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2012

Keywords

  • Alternative energy
  • Biofuel
  • Fragilaria
  • Lake Erie
  • Lipid

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