Isolation and Characterization of Microalgae from Diverse Pakistani Habitats: Exploring Third-Generation Biofuel Potential

Muhammad Maqsood Alam, Abdul Samad Mumtaz, Megan Russell, Melanie Grogger, Don Veverka and Patrick C. Hallenbeck
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Muhammad Maqsood Alam: Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Université de Montréal, CP 6128, Centre-ville, Montréal, PQ H3C 3J7, Canada
Abdul Samad Mumtaz: Plant Genetics and Genomics Laboratory, Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
Megan Russell: Life Sciences Research Center, Department of Biology, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO 80840, USA
Melanie Grogger: Life Sciences Research Center, Department of Biology, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO 80840, USA
Don Veverka: Life Sciences Research Center, Department of Biology, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO 80840, USA
Patrick C. Hallenbeck: Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie, Université de Montréal, CP 6128, Centre-ville, Montréal, PQ H3C 3J7, Canada

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 14, 1-17

Abstract: Production of microalgae as feedstock for biofuels must deal with a number of challenges including constraints imposed by local conditions. One solution is to use indigenous strains adapted to local climatic conditions. The present report describes the isolation, identification, and characterization of 32 microalgal strains from different ecological habitats: desert freshwater channels, northern region, and saline regions of Pakistan. The effects of temperature on algal growth rates, biomass productivity, and lipid content were determined through growth at 12, 20, and 35 °C for 15 days under 2% CO 2 Responses to temperature varied among species with 20 °C being the optimum temperature in general, although, exceptionally, the best overall growth rate was found for strain S29 (0.311 d −1 ) at 12 °C. In some cases high biomass productivity was observed at 35 °C, and, depending upon the strain, the maximum lipid content was obtained at different temperatures, including 12 °C. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis showed that the major fatty acids present were palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic. Oleic acid (C18:1) was the predominant fatty acid, with the specific FAME profile varying with strain. Thus, there is a rich diversity of microalgal strains native to Pakistan, some of which, characterized here, could be suitable for biodiesel production or other biotechnological applications.

Keywords: microalgae; indigenous Pakistani flora; temperature; growth rate; biomass productivity; lipid content; biofuel; biodiesel; FAME composition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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