title: Light intensity impacts the production of biofuel intermediates in Heterosigma akashiwo growing on simulated flue gas containing carbon dioxide and nitric oxide.
abstract: As a potential biofuel feedstock, the marine microalga, Heterosigma akashiwo, accumulates significant lipids, is capable of long-term growth in outdoor photobioreactors, and is an excellent candidate for the bioremediation of industrial emissions. Here, we evaluated resource partitioning in H. akashiwo growing on a CO2 and NO gas mixture under three light intensities: 160, 560, or 1200μmolquantam(-2)s(-1). Light levels had no effect on growth; however, cultures in high light accumulated 2.3-fold more carbohydrates and 17% fewer lipids. Light levels did not affect the percentage of saturated fatty acids, but mono-unsaturates increased by 6% and poly-unsaturates decreased by 12% in high light. The fatty acid profiles reported here suggest that H. akashiwo is a good candidate for the production of neutral lipids for biodiesel and also omega-3 fatty acids, and that the quality of biodiesel acquired from feedstocks grown under fluctuating light conditions would be relatively stable.
authors: University of Delaware, School of Marine Science and Policy, Lewes, DE 19958, USA.
authors: Colleen M
authors: CM
authors: Bianco
authors: University of Delaware, School of Marine Science and Policy, Lewes, DE 19958, USA. Electronic address: jen@udel.edu.
authors: Jennifer J
authors: JJ
authors: Stewart
authors: Department of Chemistry, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD 21801, USA.
authors: Katherine R
authors: KR
authors: Miller
authors: Department of Chemistry, Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD 21801, USA.
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Fitzgerald
authors: University of Delaware, School of Marine Science and Policy, Lewes, DE 19958, USA.
authors: Kathryn J
authors: KJ
authors: Coyne
mesh_terms: D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008027:Light; D008055:Lipids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D058086:Microalgae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D058433:Photobioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008055:Lipids; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D009569:Nitric Oxide
keywords: Biofuel; Bioremediation; Carbohydrate; Heterosigma; Irradiance