Effect of nutrients and gamma radiation on growth and lipid accumulation of Chlorella vulgaris for biodiesel production

ABSTRACT The present work investigated the effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), carbonate (CO3) concentrations and gamma radiation doses on growth and lipid production of Chlorella vulgaris. The obtained results showed that culture conditions have highly significant effects on biomass and lipid accumulation. The maximum lipid content was observed at 350, 40, 150,20 mg L？1 of N, P, Mg, and CO3 concentrations, respectively. While the highest biomass yield was achieved at high N and P as well as reduced Mg and CO3 concentrations. Whereas gamma radiation showed a negative effect. Lipid profile recorded maximum saturated (SFAs, 62.44%) and unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs, 37.56%) with palmitic acid (C16:0), linoleic acid (C18:2), pentadecanoic acid (C15:0), palmitoleic acid (C16:1) and oleic acid (C18:1) as predominant fatty acids, which prove that Chlorella vulgaris is a promising feedstock for biodiesel production