Behavior of Nannochloropsis oculata In Indoor Cultivation: The Effects of Flue Gas Exposure And Illumination Period on The Growth And Lipid Content

摘要

Indonesian government launched an energy source substitution from fossil fuel into renewable energy such as biodiesel oil. It is known that microalgae could store high lipid content making it useful for biodiesel production. This research studied the cell growth and lipid content profile of Nannochloropsis oculata at various exposure periods of flue gas and illumination. The experiments were done in indoor bioreactor outfitted by a light source and flue gas absorber. Five liters of medium BG-11 was circulated through bioreactor and absorber while the exposure periods of light and flue gas were varied intermittently and/or continuously. N. oculata reached the highest cell density of 27.3 mg/L when it was treated at continuous illumination with the absence of flue gas exposure. The highest lipid content of 36.88% was achieved at the cell density of 14.11 mg/L in continuous illumination and 10 minutes per day of flue gas exposure. The CO2 enrichment through flue gas exprosure showed an environmental stress toward microalgae growth and drove the lipid content as well as the periodical illumination.