Effect of nutrients condition on the growth and lipid content of microalgae Chlorella vulgaris and Chroococcus minor

Abstract

Two local microalgae are used in this study: Chlorella vulgaris as model of green algae and Chroococcus minor as model of blue green algae which used to test their ability to produce lipids as a source of biodiesel through starvation of some nutrients (-N) 100, (-N) 50%, (-P) 50%, (-N) 50 %+(-P) 50% and (-Fe) 50%, the study showed that the accumulation of lipids in C.vulgaris more efficient than C.minor , in C.vulgaris The highest lipid content was 41% from DW in treatment (-N) 100% while the lowest lipid content was 8% at control, carbohydrate content increased from 18% at control to 34% at (-N) 100% while the highest protein was 51% of DW in the control. In C.minor the highest lipid content was 31% in (-N) 100% while the lowest lipid content was 5% at control. The highest carbohydrate content was 28% of DW (-N) 100%, while the highest protein was 40% of DW in the control.