Influence of the initial concentration of Chlorella vulgaris and CO2 in the production of lipids

Abstract

Introduction: Due to the decrease of oil, an alternative energy source such as microalgae biomass is planted to obtain lipids and then biodiesel. Objective: to evaluate the influence of CO2 and the initial concentration of Chlorella vulgaris on lipid production on a laboratory scale. Material and methods: four microalgae growth tests were developed, with CO2 concentrations (0-3 %; 3-6 %; 6-9 %; 9-12 %) as a carbon source for biomass production. Start with a cell density of 8.01x106; 1.34x107; 1.74x107 and 1.58x107 cells/mL. The growth parameters were determined in the research group (Ángel, 2012), as a culture medium Foliagro® was used, from the 21 W red light bulbs for cycles of 12/12 hours light/dark, pH 7.5 and a temperature of 24 °C ± 2.5 °C. Results: CO2 concentrations were determined to be between 0-3 % and 6-9 %, with a cellular production of 3.65x107 cells/mL, satisfactory for the two intervals. The yield of the lipids produced was 61.83 %, for a CO2 concentration between 0-3 % and 54.49 % for a CO2 concentration between 6-9 %. Conclusions: for the test 1, the iodine index was 67.91 and the saponification index 107.99; for the test 3 the first was 63.12, and second was 132.63, the parameters that indicate that the lipids produced are useful for the production of biodiesel.