African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12487

Full Length Research Paper

Growth of Chlorella vulgaris and Nannochloris oculata in effluents of Tilapia farming for the production of fatty acids with potential in biofuels

Yesica I. Ferrer-Alvarez
  • Yesica I. Ferrer-Alvarez
  • Instituto Tecnologico de Boca del Rio, Division de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigacion, Carr. Veracruz-Cordoba km. 12, P. O. Box 94290, Boca del Rio, Veracruz, Mexico.
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Luis A. Ortega-Clemente*
  • Luis A. Ortega-Clemente*
  • Instituto Tecnologico de Boca del Rio, Division de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigacion, Carr. Veracruz-Cordoba km. 12, P. O. Box 94290, Boca del Rio, Veracruz, Mexico.
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Ignacio A. Perez-Legaspi
  • Ignacio A. Perez-Legaspi
  • Instituto Tecnologico de Boca del Rio, Division de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigacion, Carr. Veracruz-Cordoba km. 12, P. O. Box 94290, Boca del Rio, Veracruz, Mexico.
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Martha P. Hernandez-Vergara
  • Martha P. Hernandez-Vergara
  • Instituto Tecnologico de Boca del Rio, Division de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigacion, Carr. Veracruz-Cordoba km. 12, P. O. Box 94290, Boca del Rio, Veracruz, Mexico.
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Paula N. Robledo-Narvaez
  • Paula N. Robledo-Narvaez
  • Instituto Tecnologico Superior de Tierra Blanca, Av. Veracruz S/N Esq. Heroes de Puebla, Colonia Pemex, Tierra Blanca, P. O. Box 95180, Veracruz, Mexico.
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Elvira Rios-Leal
  • Elvira Rios-Leal
  • Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados del I. P. N., Department of Biotechnology & Bioengineering, Environmental Biotechnology and Renewable Energies R&D Group, P. O. Box 14-740, 07000, Mexico D. F., Mexico.
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Hector M. Poggi-Varaldo
  • Hector M. Poggi-Varaldo
  • Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados del I. P. N., Department of Biotechnology & Bioengineering, Environmental Biotechnology and Renewable Energies R&D Group, P. O. Box 14-740, 07000, Mexico D. F., Mexico.
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  •  Received: 13 January 2015
  •  Accepted: 15 May 2015
  •  Published: 20 May 2015

Abstract

The use of microalgae in wastewater treatment and its biotechnological exploitation for the production of biofuels is a potential environmental application. Some species of microalgae are notable due to their lipid composition and fatty acid profile suitable for biofuel production. During the present study, a factorial 23 experimental design was conducted, which assessed three factors: i) two species of microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris and Nannochloris oculata), ii) two types of culture media [wastewater of tilapia farming (WTF) and bold’s basal medium (BB)], and iii) two types of lighting (multi-LED lamps and white light). Microalgae were inoculated in photobioreactors in 6 L of medium (WTF or BBM) at an initial concentration of 1.0 × 106 cells ml-1 at 20 ± 2°C. The highest average cell density as well as the highest productivity of biomass observed in the treatments was C. vulgaris treatment in BBM and multi-LED lighting (8.83 × 107 cells ml-1 and 0.0854 g l-1 d-1, respectively). Although the majority of lipid productivity was obtained in the exponential phase of N. oculata cultivated in multi-LEDs in both treatments (BBM with 58% and WTF with 52%), cultivation of both species was generally maintained in WTF and were those that presented the major lipid productivity (2-18 mg l-1 d-1) in comparison with those cultivated in BBM. Palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic and eicosanoic (C16–C20) fatty acids were present in both species of microalgae in concentrations between 26 and 74%. Based on the results of the present study, we conclude that cultivation of N. oculata and/or C. vulgaris in WTF illuminated with multi-LEDs is an economic and sustainable alternative for biodiesel production because it can represent up to 58% of lipids with a fatty acid profile optimal up to 74% of the total fatty acids.

 

Key words: Chlorella vulgaris, Nannochloris oculata, production of fatty acids, wastewater of tilapia farming, production of biofuels.

Abbreviation

BBM, Bold’s basal medium; WTF, wastewater tilapia farming; Nn, Nannochloris oculata; Ch, Chlorella vulgaris; LED, multi-LED lighting; WL, white lights.

Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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