Potential of Mixotrophic Cultivation of Chlorella sorokiniana for Biodiesel Production

Biodiesel from microalgae provides a promising alternative for biofuel production. Microalgal biodiesel can be produced under three major cultivation modes, namely, photoautotrophic, heterotrophic, and mixotrophic cultivation. Studies of biodiesel production from microalgae have been reported mostly focusing on photoautotrophic cultivation, mixotrophic cultivation has rarely been researched. This paper compared the biomass productivity, lipid content, and lipid productivity ofChlorella sorokinianaunder photoautotrophic, heterotrophic, and mixotrophic cultivation. Glucose was adopted as organic carbon source at five concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0% glucose w/v). Results displayed that microalgal growth was significantly improved in glucose supplied cultures. Synergetic effect of photoautotrophy and heterotrophy existed in mixotrophic cultivation except for 5.0% culture. Highest biomass productivity of 1.178 g·L-1·d-1and highest lipid productivity of 582 mg·L-1·d-1was observed under mixotrophic cultivation with 2.0% (w/v) glucose addition. Lipid content ofC. sorokinianawas mostly higher in stationary phase than in exponential phase. Highest lipid content of 49.37% was observed in 2.0% mixotrophic culture, followed by 47.09% in 2.0% heterotrophic culture.