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Biomass and lipid productivities of Chlorella vulgaris under autotrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic growth conditions

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Abstract

Biomass and lipid productivities of Chlorella vulgaris under different growth conditions were investigated. While autotrophic growth did provide higher cellular lipid content (38%), the lipid productivity was much lower compared with those from heterotrophic growth with acetate, glucose, or glycerol. Optimal cell growth (2 g l−1) and lipid productivity (54 mg l−1 day−1) were attained using glucose at 1% (w/v) whereas higher concentrations were inhibitory. Growth of C. vulgaris on glycerol had a similar dose effects as those from glucose. Overall, C. vulgaris is mixotrophic.

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Acknowledgments

This research is supported by Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC)’s new faculty start-up funds. Financial support from SIUC Material Technology Center is also greatly acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Southern Illinois University, 1230 Lincoln Dr., Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA

    Yanna Liang, Nicolas Sarkany & Yi Cui

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  1. Yanna Liang
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  2. Nicolas Sarkany
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  3. Yi Cui
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Correspondence to Yanna Liang.

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Liang, Y., Sarkany, N. & Cui, Y. Biomass and lipid productivities of Chlorella vulgaris under autotrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic growth conditions. Biotechnol Lett 31, 1043–1049 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-009-9975-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-009-9975-7

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