title: Use of Copper to Selectively Inhibit Brachionus calyciflorus (Predator) Growth in Chlorella kessleri (Prey) Mass Cultures for Algae Biodiesel Production.
abstract: A single Brachionus rotifer can consume thousands of algae cells per hour causing an algae pond to crash within days of infection. Thus, there is a great need to reduce rotifers in order for algal biofuel production to become reality. Copper can selectively inhibit rotifers in algae ponds, thereby protecting the algae crop. Differential toxicity tests were conducted to compare the copper sensitivity of a model rotifer-B. calyciflorus and an alga, C. kessleri. The rotifer LC50 was <0.1 ppm while the alga was not affected up to 5 ppm Cu(II). The low pH of the rotifer stomach may make it more sensitive to copper. However, when these cultures were combined, a copper concentration of 1.5 ppm was needed to inhibit the rotifer as the alga bound the copper, decreasing its bioavailability. Copper (X ppm) had no effect on downstream fatty acid methyl ester extraction.
authors.affiliation: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 200 Bobby Dodd Way, Atlanta, GA 30313, USA. priya71189@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vishnupriya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pradeep
authors.affiliation: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 200 Bobby Dodd Way, Atlanta, GA 30313, USA. svg7@mail.gatech.edu.
authors.forename: Steven W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Van Ginkel
authors.affiliation: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 200 Bobby Dodd Way, Atlanta, GA 30313, USA. sichoon.park@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sichoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 200 Bobby Dodd Way, Atlanta, GA 30313, USA. thomas.igou@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Igou
authors.affiliation: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 200 Bobby Dodd Way, Atlanta, GA 30313, USA. c.yi@gatech.edu.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 200 Bobby Dodd Way, Atlanta, GA 30313, USA. hfu36@gatech.edu.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, 310 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30313, USA. rachel.johnston@biology.gatech.edu.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, 310 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30313, USA. terry.snell@biology.gatech.edu.
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Snell
authors.affiliation: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 200 Bobby Dodd Way, Atlanta, GA 30313, USA. yongsheng.chen@ce.gatech.edu.
authors.forename: Yongsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D061249:Batch Cell Culture Techniques; D056804:Biofuels / Q000382:microbiology; D002708:Chlorella / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000469:parasitology; D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D012403:Rotifera / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D003300:Copper
keywords: algae pond crash; biodiesel production; copper; rotifer; toxicity