title: Use of the dinoflagellate Karlodinium veneficum as a sustainable source of biodiesel production.
abstract: Microalgae are microscopic heterotrophic-autotrophic photosynthesizing organisms with enormous potential as a source of biofuel. Dinoflagellates, a class of microalgae, contain large amounts of high-quality lipids, the principal component of fatty acid methyl esters. The biotic characteristics of the dinoflagellate species Karlodinium veneficum include a growth rate of 0.14 day(-1), a wet biomass of 16.4 g/L, a growth period of approximately 30 days, and an approximate 97% increase in fatty acid content during the transition from exponential phase to stationary phase. These parameters make K. veneficum a suitable choice as a bioresource for biodiesel production. Similarly, two other species were also determined to be appropriate for biodiesel production: the Dinophyceae Alexandrium andersoni and the Raphidophyte Heterosigma akashiwo.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Ciències del Mar/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 08003 Barcelona, Spain. cfuentes@cmima.csic.es
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fuentes-Grünewald
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garcés
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Camp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D003470:Culture Media; D004141:Dinoflagellida / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008055:Lipids