Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the carbon sequestration potential of Scenedesmus species (a microalgae species) under the fresh water ecosystem. Biofixation of CO₂ by microalgae mass cultures represents an advanced, climate friendly biological process that enables the direct utilization of fossil CO₂streams produced from concentrated sources, such as power plants. The study was done in Nagpur region, the sample of Scenedesmus species (a microalgae species) were collected from fresh water ponds scattered over in Nagpur area. Collected samples were isolated for Scenedesmus species with Streak plate and Pour plate method by using serial dilution, purification was done by antibiotic treatment. The growth ofScenedesmus species was tested under different concentration of CO₂, heavy metal treatment and different pH values and also chlorophyll contents were estimated over the various concentrations of CO₂. Results revealed that the highest growth reported at 36% of CO₂ treatment, 7.4 to 8.0 pH values and growth inhibited under high concentration of heavy metals. Chlorophyll synthesis was reported highest at 36% of CO₂treatment. With the results it concluded that the Scenedesmus species having good carbon sequestration potential as it can tolerate up to 48% CO₂ concentration in the medium, and can give excellent biomass accumulation under the 36% CO₂ contents in the medium. This Scenedesmus species can be exploited as good source of bio-fixation of environmental CO₂.

Key words: Scenedesmus species, biofixation, carbon sequestration, microalgae.