optimization of culture media for lipid production by nannochloropsis oculata for biodiesel production

background: this study quantified the effect of four popular culture media in a biodiesel production study on the qualitative and quantitative lipid content, dry biomass, and lipid productivity of nannochloropsis oculata. methods: culture of microalgae was done separately in walne, f/2, sato, and tmrl media. in the logarithmic and stationary growth phases, biomass production and lipid accumulation of microalgae were measured and the constituents were identified by gas chromatography. results: n. oculata exhibited the highest rate of cell growth and biomass productivity of 0.2616 day-1 and 2.652 gl-1 in the walne medium. the highest level of biomass conversion into lipids in tmrl medium revealed a cell dry weight of 37.22%. walne medium proved to have the most efficient lipid productivity which was 0.1057 gl-1 day-1. the highest amount of triacylglycerol (tag) was obtained in sato medium in the stationary growth phase and was 75.25% of the fatty acids. conclusion: the present study provides a practical benchmark, which allows the introduction of walne as a suitable culture medium for n. oculata in biodiesel studies.