Cultivation of Dunaliella tertiolecta intervened by triethylamine enhances the lipid content

Microalgae have become increasingly attractive as feedstocks for biodiesel production since they have many advantages over traditional raw materials, such as strong carbon fixation ability, high growth rate, not competing with arable land etc. In this study, different concentrations of triethylamine were added into the culture medium to test their effects on biomass, chlorophyll content, fatty acid profile and neutral lipid content of Dunaliella tertiolecta. The results showed that biomass production and chlorophyll content were notably reduced by the addition of triethylamine. However, total lipid production and lipid content per cell were significantly enhanced. One hundred ppm showed the greatest boosting effect and elevated the lipid production and lipid content per cell by 20% and 80%, respectively, compared to the control group. Fatty acid profile was also affected, where C16:0 was increased while C18:2 and C18:3 were decreased. The content of C18:1 decreased from 0 to 100 ppm and then elevated as the addition of triethylamine increased from 100 ppm to 200 ppm. Intracellular stress was suspected to have occurred. It can be concluded that triethylamine is an effective inducer of lipid accumulation in D. tertiolecta.