Evaluation of novel thermo-resistant Micractinium and Scenedesmus sp. for efficient biomass and lipid production under different temperature and nutrient regimes

Despite the vast interest in microalgae as feedstock for biodiesel production, relatively few studies examined their response to diurnal temperature fluctuation. Here, we describe biomass and lipid productivities and fatty acid profiles of thermo-resistant Micractinium sp. and Scenedesmus sp. grown in batch cultures in a laboratory set-up that mimics a typically warm summer day in Central Anatolia with a 16-h light temperature of 30 °C and 8-h dark temperature of 16 °C (30 °C (day)/16 °C (night)). Both strains can survive a temperature range of 10-50 °C. We found the lipid productivities of Micractinium sp. and Scenedesmus sp. as 30/21 mg L−1 d−1 and 6/7 mg L−1 d−1, respectively during the 30 °C (day)/16 °C (night) cycle. Saturated fatty acid content increased with increasing temperature. Additionally, we cultured Micractinium sp. under Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) limiting conditions. Highest lipid productivity of 85.4 ± 2 mg L−1 d−1 was obtained under P-depletion during exponential growth phase. Oleic acid amount also increased eight fold during P-deplete.