Night illumination using monochromatic light-emitting diodes for enhanced microalgal growth and biodiesel production

The present study investigated the effect of monochromatic light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the growth and biodiesel yield of the green microalga Scenedesmus obliquus. Different LEDs were applied individually or in combination during the night period. Among different individual treatments, red and blue illumination showed the highest biomass and lipid productivity due to stimulation of pigmentation and photosystem II, respectively. Microalgal growth, lipid production and biodiesel recovery significantly increased under combined blue-red illumination. In addition, saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids proportions increased in favor of polyunsaturated ones. Moreover, blue-red LEDs enhanced the net biodiesel energy output over the control. The total increase in net energy output represented 5.1, 3.8 and 10.8 MJ using red, blue and blue-red light, respectively. In conclusion, application of blue-red LEDs during the night period is an economical technology for microalgae cultivation, which might have a potential impact on the future of commercial biodiesel production from microalgae.