Botryococcus braunii: A Renewable Source of Hydrocarbons and Other Chemicals

Abstract

Botryococcus braunii, a green colonial microalga, is an unusually rich renewable source of hydrocarbons and other chemicals. Hydrocarbons can constitute up to 75% of the dry mass of B. braunii. This review details the various facets of biotechnology of B. braunii, including its microbiology and physiology; production of hydrocarbons and other compounds by the alga; methods of culture; downstream recovery and processing of algal hydrocarbons; and cloning of the algal genes into other microorganisms. B. braunii converts simple inorganic compounds and sunlight to potential hydrocarbon fuels and feedstocks for the chemical industry. Microorganisms such as B. braunii can, in the long run, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and because of this B. braunii continues to attract much attention.

Hydrocarbon profiles and phylogenetic analyses of diversified cyanobacterial species

“…Nostoc spongiaeforme FACHB 130, which showed a greater hydrocarbon production than all wild type strains previously reported [18,29], was identified as a prospective strain for the production of hydrocarbons with a biomass productivity of 1.3 g/L DCW and a hydrocarbon yield of 1.8 mg/g DCW ( Table 2). It is well known that hydrocarbons can constitute up to 75% of the DCW of Botryococcus braunii, an eukaryotic microalga belonging to the green algae division of chlorophyta [35]. However, it grows slowly relative to most cyanobacteria.…”

Biofuel alternatives to ethanol: pumping the microbial well

“…Microbial fatty acid biosynthesis and the diversity of naturally occurring fatty acids are well understood [25]. One high-yield source is the oleaginous algae Botryococcus braunii [26,27]. In this organism, up to 40% of dry cell weight consists of fatty acids.…”

“…Sources of isopre-noids previously suggested for fuel production have included oil-producing algae such as B. braunii. These organisms produce large amounts of isoprenoids as well as fatty acids [27]. Owing to the complex mixture of hydro-carbons, the extract is more akin to a biocrude and there-fore would require hydrogenation and cracking, in much the same manner as fossil-derived counterparts [43].…”

Microalgal triacylglycerols as feedstocks for biofuel production: perspectives and advances

“…Only the colonial green alga, Botryococcus braunii, has been shown to produce, under adverse environmental conditions, large quantities (up to 80% DCW) of very-long-chain (C23-C40) hydrocarbons, similar to those found in petroleum, and thus has been explored over the decades as a feedstock for biofuels and biomaterials. A discussion of hydrocarbons in this alga is beyond the scope of this review, but other reviews of this topic have been published recently (Banerjee et al, 2002;Metzger and Largeau, 2005).…”