Identification of Phytoplankton from Fresh Water and Growth Optimization in Potent Algae by Response Surface Methodology for Enhanced Biomass Production

Abstract

Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms which have the ability to transform carbon source into biochemicals that can be utilized as biofuels, food, feed and high value bioactive compounds. This study was carried out to evaluate the diversity of phytoplankton including diatoms, microalgae and cyanobacteria in water from two different locations in Salem district of Tamil Nadu, India. In the present study ten water samples were collected from these two sites and their phytoplankton diversity was studied using microscopy. Nearly four cyanobacteria, nine green algae and twenty four diatoms were observed. From them thirteen microalgae and cyanobacteria were isolated and grown in laboratory conditions, nine were able to sustain growth. Algal isolates viz., Chlorella sp. (88 mg/l), Chlorococcum sp. (67 mg/l), Oscillatoria sp. (53 mg/l) and Phormidium sp. (72 mg/l) were selected based on biomass productivity. Higher biochemical profile was found in two microalgae and one cyanobacterium. These three algae were optimized by box benkhen analysis of response surface methodology using varying sources such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphate, pH and temperature. The results revealed that these algae showed maximum biomass production in optimized conditions. The obtained biomass may be used for extraction of bioactive compounds, probiotics, biofuels and other value added products.