Influence of Nitrogen Sources on Biomass Growth of Microalgae Chlorella vulgaris

Authors

  • Наталія Борисівна Голуб National technical university of Ukraine “Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Ukraine
  • Ігор Ігорович Левтун National technical university of Ukraine “Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Ukraine
  • Єлізавета Дмитрівна Тимошенко National technical university of Ukraine “Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Ukraine

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20535/1810-0546.2015.3.60707

Keywords:

Microalgae, Chlorella vulgaris, Nitrogen source, Biomass growth, Biofuel

Abstract

Background. Microalgae is perspective resource for biodiesel fuel production. However there is no clear data about the best nitrogen source and its contents for high biomass yield and high lipid contents in it.

Objective. Determination of nitrogen sources influence on Chlorella vulgaris biomass yield for its usage as a raw material in biofuels obtaining process.

Methods. Cultivation of microalgae was conducted using mediums containing: CO(NH2)2, NH4NO3, NH4Cl and КNO3as the nitrogen source. The biomass growth dynamics measurements were based on optical density determination method.

Results. The highest biomass yield occurred in the culture grown with NH4Cl in the medium, and a bit lower yield levels where observed in the medium containing urea, that supports the theory, which stated that more energy is needed to transform nitrogen into restored form. Consumption of ammonium ions leads to rapid decrease of pH level of the medium down to 5. The usage of urea allows keeping medium pH on the level of 7.5.

Conclusions. For maximum yield of Chlorella vulgaris biomass it is necessary to use different nitrogen sources, that allow controlling pH in cultivation process.


Author Biographies

Наталія Борисівна Голуб, National technical university of Ukraine “Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”

Nataliya B. Golub, doctor of technical sciences, assistance professor, associate professor at the Faculty of Biotechnology and BiotechnicsFaculty of Biotechnology and BiotechnicsFaculty of Biotechnology and Biotechnics

Ігор Ігорович Левтун, National technical university of Ukraine “Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”

Igor I. Levtun, postgraduate student at the Faculty of Biotechnology and Biotechnics

Єлізавета Дмитрівна Тимошенко, National technical university of Ukraine “Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”

Yelizaveta D.Tymoshenko, student at the Faculty of Biotechnology and Biotechnics

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Published

2015-07-03