Screening and characterization of the microalgal isolates for biofuel production and economically important bio active compounds
Student name: Mr Abhishek Saxena
Guide: Dr Deepti Gupta
Year of completion: 2010
Host Organisation: Centre for Mycorrhizal Research, Biotechnology and Management of Bioresources Division, The Energy a
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Dr Alok Adholeya
Abstract: Microalgae has emerged out as an ideal candidate for research related to nlrtraceutical, food
supplement, as well as biofirels; thzrs impacting three major sectors: food, pharmacezrticals and
energy. This has been possible becalrse algae contain considerably more protein per unit biomass
than other plant based protein sources. Single cell protein from Spir~rlina sp. has already made its
wav into the market and is an example of a szrccessjirl alga based food szrpplernent. Algae also give
other secondary metabolites, vitamin preclrrsors, pigments, fatty acids, lipids and proteins that can
be a trsefirl and equally econon~ical(v inlportant product for the pharmacezrtical indzrsty and food
industry. Also, in this era of aczrte energy crisis we need an alternative and cleanfirel that can lower
the environmental footprint ofjirelprodz~ction while still taking care of the energy needs of the world.
Algae based biojirel is ideal in such a scenario, as it uses lesser amount of land resources available,
to give more fuel or at least the same amount offirel as obtained from its plant cotmterparts. It also
does not contribute to the food v/s fuel crisis, as some plants like corn, soybean etc. do. It is vey
important to build a proper model for down-stream processing of the alga available to us, to prevent
it from becoming a costly research leading to nowhere rather than providing us with food and firel.
Hence, the project has been modeled to estimate and extract the protein and other bio-active
compounds first from the algae and only then take the residzral biomass for estimation of oil yield.
Results obtained show that most of the samples provided contained 8-20% of protein per unit
biomass. Some samples emerged otrt as high protein content algae and can be seen as firtzrre
candidates for food and pharmaceutical research. FAME profiling of eleven out offifteen samples
was done and many important MUFA and PUFA were discovered in the samples including arachidic
acid. Also oil extraction from five samples using Soxhlet extraction method yielded oil content
percent of unit biomass in these samples and two samples could be taken further levels of large scale
culture for oil production.
Keywords: Micro-algae, nutraceuticals, biofuels, bio-active compounds, protein estimation, FAME,
fatty acids, oil content, Soxhlet.
