Biosynthesis and Characterization of Algae oil Obtained from Chlorella vulgaris
Published: 2021-05-15
Page: 230-240
Issue: 2021 - Volume 4 [Issue 2]
I. Saidu *
Centre for Occupational Health Safety and Environment, Institute of Petroleum Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria and CO2 Research and Green Technologies Centre, VIT University, Vellore, India.
G. O. Abu
Department of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt. Rivers State, Nigeria.
O. Akaranta
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt. Rivers State, Nigeria.Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt. Rivers State, Nigeria.
F. O. Chukwuma
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Port Harcourt. Rivers State, Nigeria.
S. Vijayalakshmi
CO2 Research and Green Technologies Centre, VIT University, Vellore, India.
J. Ranjitha
CO2 Research and Green Technologies Centre, VIT University, Vellore, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Chlorella vulgaris was isolated from the African Regional Aquacultural Centre Aluu, Rivers State. The culture was grown and was analysed for oil contents using three different extraction methods and was also analysed for pigments and the algae oil was characterized. Pigment analysis of the biomass had 7-12000 µg/g beta carotene, Astaxantin, Cantaxantin, Chlorophyll-a and Chlorophyll-b was 550,000 µg/g, 362,000 µg/g, 250-9630 µg/g and 72-5770 µg/g. Free fatty acid composition of the algae oil was tetradecanoic acid with a low peak height of 5.07%. The maximal peak height and component was n-hexadecanoic acid with the 17.83 minutes retention time and peak area of 18.24%, followed by the 9-octadecanoic acid (Z) Hexyl ester which had a peak area of 5.77% and a retention time of 24.80 minutes. The specific growth rate of 0.041 mg/Lday-1 for mixotrophic condition while heterotrophic had SGR of 0.054 mg/Lday-1. The study further identified that algal biomass from C. vulgaris has the potential of serving as both nutraceuticals and bioenergy feedstock. There is need for further studies around the algae oil oriented optimization as a veritable tool for biotechnological advancements.
Keywords: Biofuels, soxhlet, sustainable, chlorella vulgaris, free fatty acids, bioenergy.