Producing Energy-Rich Microalgae Biomass for Liquid Biofuels: Influence of Strain Selection and Culture Conditions

Energy-storage metabolites such as neutral lipids and carbohydrates are valuable compounds for liquid biofuel production. The aim of this work is to elucidate the main biological responses two algae species known their effective energy-rich compound accumulation in nitrogen limitation day–night cycles: Nannochloropsis gaditana, a seawater species, Parachlorella kessleri, freshwater species. Lipid carbohydrate production investigated, well cell resistance mechanical disruption release. Nitrogen-depleted N. gaditana showed only low consumption energy-storage molecules with non-significant preference (TAG) cycles. However, it did accumulate significantly fewer than P. kessleri. Following this, highest levels productivity chemostat cultures at four were found be 3.4 2.2 × 10−3 kg/m2·d TAG, respectively, 56%NO3 limitation. rate decreased along limitation, from 75% (at 200%NO3) 17% 13%NO3). In context potentially recoverable energy biofuels, kessleri good potential biodiesel high bioethanol; by contrast, was more efficient only.