Biochemical Composition of Chlorella vulgaris Grown on Sugarcane Molasses
I. Saidu *
Centre for Occupational Health Safety and Environment, Institute of Petroleum Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria and CO2 Research and Green Technologies Centre, VIT University, Vellore, India.
G. O. Abu
Department of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt. Rivers State, Nigeria.
O. Akaranta
Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt. Rivers State, Nigeria.
F. O. Chukwuma
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Port Harcourt. Rivers State, Nigeria.
S. Vijayalakshmi
CO2 Research and Green Technologies Centre, VIT University, Vellore, India.
J. Ranjitha
CO2 Research and Green Technologies Centre, VIT University, Vellore, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The quest for green and sustainable biofuel to serve as alternative to the conventional fossil fuel have remained a grey area in biotechnology. The Chlorella vulgaris was isolated from the African Regional Aquacultural Centre Aluu, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Sugarcane Molasses modified Bold Basal medium was used to cultivate the Microalgae mixotrophically. The algal culture was incubated at room temperature for 15 days with continuous aeration and 12:12 hour photoperiod under artificial illumination of 2000 lux. The proximate composition of the biomass showed 6.28%wt, 67.37% wt and 11.35%wt of moisture, volatile organic matter and Fixed carbon content respectively. The ultimate composition of Chlorella biomass revealed that Carbon was 42.46% while Oxygen content was 27.93%. Nitrogen content was 6.62% while Sulphur content was 0.82% while hydrogen content was 6.74%. The study further identified that algal biomass from C. vulgaris has the potential of serving as both nutraceuticals and bioenergy feedstock. There is need for further studies around the algae oil oriented optimization as a veritable tool for biotechnological advancements.
Keywords: Biofuels, bioenergy, chlorella vulgaris, free fatty acids, soxhlet.