Effect of light, nutrient, cultivation time and salinity on lipid production of newly isolated strain of the green microalga, Botryococcus braunii KMITL 2.

The green microalga strain, Botryococcus braunii KMITL 2, was isolated from a freshwater reservoir in central Thailand, and the effects of light, nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, cultivation time and salinity on lipid production were studied by varying parameters one at a time. When cultured in Chlorella medium containing 222 mg L(-1) phosphorus (PO(4)(3-)-P) under continuous illumination of 200 µE m(-2)s(-1) with a salinity of 0 psu, a maximum lipid content of 54.69 ± 3.13% was obtained. Its high lipid content makes strain KMITL 2 a potential source for biodiesel production in tropical regions.