Bio-mass Production of Chlorella vulgaris grown on date wastes under different stress conditions

Abstract

A laboratory experiment was conducted to produce Chlorella vulgaris biomass grew on date wastes. The green microalgae were grown indoor on BG-11 medium in plexi glass columns with continuous fluorescent light and aeration. Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) fruit wastes were washed and the flesh was oven dried at 55°C for 24h after removing the stones to obtain the flesh powder (0.9mm). Algal growth was performed under different stress conditions included (1) concentrations of 0.0, 10, 20, 30, 40 ml l-1 of wastes enriched growth media (2) NaCl concentration of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0,1.5, 2% and (3) nitrogen concentrations of 0, 25, 50, 75, 100%. The determinations included DW, total chlorophyll, carotenes and growth analysis. The obtained results showed that, the superior obtained net biomass was (0.215g l-1) with 20 ml l-1 of PDWE concentration. The net obtained chlorophyll was (34.515 mg l-1) with 30 ml l-1 of PDWE and highest carotenoid content (2.802 mg l-1) was recorded with the control. The dry weight and chlorophyll content decreased with increasing salinity, on contrary, the carotene content increased up to 1.5% and then back off again. The dry weight and chlorophyll content decreased with nitrogen decreasing while, the carotene content increased with nitrogen decreasing.