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2012 (English)In: Energies, E-ISSN 1996-1073, Vol. 5, no 5, p. 1577-1592Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
While focus in oil-producing microalgae is normally on nutrient deficiency, we
addressed the seasonal variations of lipid content and composition in large-scale
cultivation. Lipid content, fatty acid profiles and mono- di- and triglycerides (MAGs,
DAGs, and TAGs) were analyzed during May 2007–May 2009 in Nannochloropsis oculata
grown outdoors in closed vertical flat panels photobioreactors. Total lipids (TL) ranged
from 11% of dry weight (DW) in winter to 30% of DW in autumn. 50% of the variation in
TL could be explained by light and temperature. As the highest lipid content was recorded
during autumn indicating an optimal, non-linear, response to light and temperature we
hypothesize that enhanced thylakoid stacking under reduced light conditions resulted in
more structural lipids, concomitantly with the increase in glycerides due to released
photo-oxidative stress. The relative amount of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA)
increased during autumn. This suggested a synthesis, either of structural fatty acids as
MUFA, or a relative increase of C16:1 incorporated into TAGs and DAGs. Our results
emphasize the significant role of environmental conditions governing lipid content and
composition in microalgae that have to be considered for correct estimation of algal oil
yields in biodiesel production.
Keywords
microalgae, Nannochloropsis oculata, large-scale, seasonal variation, light, temperature, biofuels, biodiesel, lipids, fatty acids
National Category
Biological Sciences
Research subject
Environmental Science, Environmental technology; Chemistry, Biotechnology; Ecology, Aquatic Ecology; Technology (byts ev till Engineering), Bioenergy Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-25900 (URN)10.3390/en5051577 (DOI)000304450700017 ()2-s2.0-84861801565 (Scopus ID)
Projects
Algoland
2013-05-292013-05-282023-08-28Bibliographically approved