Optimization and Production of Botryococcus braunii Biomass using Commercial Nutrients by Response Surface Methodology

Abstract

Biofuel production by a sustainable method using microalgae is entirely dependent on biomass production. However, commercialization at large scale using microalgae is a major obstacle using analytical grade growth nutrients, due to their cost effectiveness. Hence, development of a cost effective method is essential to reduce the production cost. Therefore, the present study envisaged the effect of low-cost commercial fertilizers such as urea, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium sulfate, potash and di-ammonium phosphate as growth nutrients for the production of biomass and total lipid of Botryococcus braunii were made. The biomass and total lipid production were optimized using