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Temperature effects on lipid properties of microalgae Tetraselmis subcordiformis and Nannochloropsis oculata as biofuel resources

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Abstract

Microalgae Tetraselmis subcordiformis and Nannochloropsis oculata were cultured at 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35°C and their properties as potential biofuel resources were examined. The results indicate that T. subcordiformis and N. oculata grew best at 20°C and 25°C and yielded the highest total lipids at 20°C and 30°C, respectively. With increased temperature, neutral lipid and polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAs) decreased while saturated FAs increased, accompanied by increased monounsaturated FAs (MUFAs) in T. subcordiformis and decreased MUFAs in N. oculata; meanwhile, the predicted cetane number of FA methyl esters increased from 45.3 to 47.6 in T. subcordiformis and from 52.3 to 60.3 in N. oculata. Therefore, optimizing culture temperatures is important for improving microalgal biodiesel production.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fishery Germplasm Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, China, Shanghai, 201306, China

    Likun Wei  (危立坤), Xuxiong Huang  (黄旭雄) & Zhengzheng Huang  (黄征征)

  2. Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, Shanghai, 201306, China

    Xuxiong Huang  (黄旭雄)

  3. Shanghai University Knowledge Service Platform, Shanghai Ocean University Aquatic Animal Breeding Center (ZF1206), Shanghai, 201306, China

    Xuxiong Huang  (黄旭雄)

Authors
  1. Likun Wei  (危立坤)
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  2. Xuxiong Huang  (黄旭雄)
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  3. Zhengzheng Huang  (黄征征)
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Correspondence to Xuxiong Huang  (黄旭雄).

Additional information

Supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program) (No. 2009AA064401), the Special Fundation for Marine Renewable Energy from the State Oceanic Administration of China (No. SHME2011SW02), and the Shanghai Universities First-class Disciplines Project of Fisheries (A)

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Wei, L., Huang, X. & Huang, Z. Temperature effects on lipid properties of microalgae Tetraselmis subcordiformis and Nannochloropsis oculata as biofuel resources. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 33, 99–106 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-015-3346-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-015-3346-0

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