Towards the commercialization of Botryococcus braunii for triterpenoid production.
Botryococcus braunii can accumulate unusually high levels of triterpenoid hydrocarbons making it a potential source of high value chemicals. However, its commercial application is hampered by its slow growth and lack of large-scale studies of triterpenoid hydrocarbon production. This study investigated hydrocarbon production in two race B of B. braunii strains, Overjuyo-3 and Kossou-4, at 25 °C in 500 L open tanks under artificial lighting in modified BG11 medium over 60 days. Maximum growth was reached by 40 days with Overjuyo-3 producing more biomass (3.05 g L(-1)) than Kossou-4 (2.55 g L(-1)). However, Kossou-4 produced more oil (0.75 g L(-1)) and triterpenoid hydrocarbons (C30-C34; 50 % of oil weight) compared to 0.63 g L(-1) of oil in Overjuyo-3 with triterpenoid hydrocarbons making up 29 % of oil weight. This research demonstrates for the first time that large-scale production of high value triterpenoid hydrocarbon for commercial application is feasible with Kossou-4 strain.
School of Applied Science, Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia.|Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Taif University, Taif, 21974, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Khalid A
KA
Al-Hothaly
School of Applied Science, Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia.
Eric M
EM
Adetutu
School of Health Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.
Brian H
BH
May
School of Applied Science, Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia.|Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Moshtohor, Toukh, 13736, Egypt.
Mohamed
M
Taha
School of Applied Science, Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation, RMIT University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia. andy.ball@rmit.edu.au.
Andrew S
AS
Ball
D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000191:economics*; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D009821:Oils / Q000378:metabolism; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000191:economics / Q000378:metabolism*
D009821:Oils; D014315:Triterpenes
Biomass; Botryococcus braunii; Large scale; Race B; Triterpenoid hydrocarbon