Evaluation of promising algal strains for sustainable exploitation coupled with CO2 fixation

The photosynthetic activity of three microalgae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Chlorella AU1, Scenedesmus AU1, and six cyanobacteria, Spirulina platensis, Anabaena cylindrica, Oscillatoria AU1, Nostoc muscurum, Synechococcus AU1, Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, was investigated. Strains S. platensis, Scenedesmus AU1 sp. and Chlorella AU1 sp. showed the highest fluorescence quenching than other strains tested. Thus, these were selected for CO2 mitigation analysis in a designed tubular photobioreactor system at 0.06%, 6%, 12%, 18% and 24% CO2 concentrations. Spirulina showed maximum biomass productivity of 1.03 g L(-1) d(-1) with the highest CO2 fixation rate of 0.678 g [Formula: see text] L(-1) d(-1) at 6% CO2 concentration. The maximum protein content (66.63%) was also achieved in Spirulina sp. at 6% CO2 concentration. Thus, Spirulina could be utilized as a source of protein supplement coupled with CO2 fixation. Maximum carbohydrate proportion (51.71%) was noted with Scenedesmus AU1 sp. at 12% CO2. Scenedesmus AU1 sp. also accumulated the maximum lipid content (25.07%) at 6% CO2 concentration, which was further analysed for biodiesel production. The extracted Scenedesmus oil was mainly rich in short chain fatty acids (C-16 : 0, C-18:1, C-18:2, C-18:3) which is an ideal combination for efficient biodiesel. Thus, this is vital in helping to choose Scenedesmus as a biodiesel feedstock, coupled with CO2 fixation.