Lipid accumulation and nutrient removal properties of a newly isolated freshwater microalga, Scenedesmus sp. LX1, growing in secondary effluent.
Coupling of biodiesel production and wastewater treatment based on microalgae is a promising approach for handling the energy crisis of declining fossil fuel reserves. A freshwater microalga, Scenedesmus sp. LX1, isolated in a previous study, was tested for its ability to remove nutrients and accumulate lipid while growing in secondary effluent. Compared with 11 other species of high-lipid content microalgae obtained from the algae bank, Scenedesmus sp. LX1 adapted better to secondary effluent and achieved the highest biomass (0.11 gL(-1), dry weight) and lipid content (31-33%, dry weight). In secondary effluent, the specific growth rate (r) and maximum population growth rate (R(max)) of Scenedesmus sp. LX1 was 0.2 day(-1) and 0.23 x 10(6)cells (mL day)(-1), respectively, and inorganic nutrients could be efficiently removed by over 98% in 10 days. Upon a trigger of nitrogen deficiency on day 10, lipid content increased from 14% to 31%, and the highest lipid accumulation rate during cultivation was 0.008g(L day)(-1).
Xin
Li
L
State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
Hong-Ying
Hu
H
Jia
Yang
Y
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D005618:Fresh Water; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D044444:Scenedesmus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
D056804:Biofuels; D008055:Lipids