Culture, growth, pigments and lipid content of Scenedesmus species, an extremophile microalga from Soda Dam, New Mexico in wastewater

•We isolated an extremophile green alga from Soda Dam, New Mexico.•18S rDNA sequencing confirmed it as Scenedesmus species Novo.•Biomass peaked at 27.4 × 106 cells ml− 1, 49.11 μg chl a ml− 1 and 24.93 μg carotene ml− 1 and a division rate of 0.54 day− 1.•Indoor and outdoor wastewater cultures yielded very high cellular lipid and carotene.•Because of its unique features this alga has a potential to sustain biotechnological applications.

We isolated an extremophile green alga from Jemez New Mexico; 18S rDNA sequencing confirmed it as Scenedesmus species Novo. Cultures in TAP medium (24 ± 1 °C, 132–148 μmol photons m− 2 s− 1) attained peak biomass (27.4 × 106 cells ml− 1, 49.11 μg chl a ml− 1 and 24.93 μg carotene ml− 1) and a division rate of 0.54 day− 1. Under outdoor harsh conditions (6524–7360 μmol photons m− 2 s− 1 and 40 °C), biomass peaked at 10.41 × 106 cells, 6.92 μg chl a, and 4.49 μg carotene. Indoor wastewater cultures enriched with TAP yielded 63 to 94.3 pg lipid cell− 1 and 16.7 to 36.6 pg lipid cell− 1 in outdoor cultures which are amongst the highest for microalgae; lipid as dry cell weight reached peak values of 85% and 33%, respectively. Total carotenoids (pg cell− 1) ranged from 1.52 to 3.58 in indoor cultures and 0.34 to 1.08 for outdoor cultures comparable to 0.24–4.75 to literature values. Because of its ability to produce high levels of biomass, lipids and carotenes in wastewater under harsh ambient climatic conditions, Scenedesmus species Novo has the potential to sustain biotechnological applications. We recommend continued exploration of extremophile algal species native to New Mexico and beyond, to develop strategies for a viable and sustainable bio-economy.