Biomass Evaluation of a Novel Green Microalga Chlamydomonas sp. KIOST-1 for Biofuel Production Isolated from Korea

Abstract

From the early 20th century, Chlamydomonas (Chlorophyceae, Chlorophyta) has been thoroughly investigated as an important model for microalgal physiology and genetics. Recently, those researches also have been expanded on bioremediation and biofuel production. In this study, we evaluated the biofuel production potential of a newly isolated unicellular green microalga from freshwater in Korea. The isolated microalga was preliminarily analyzed by microscopic investigations and its taxonomical position was confirmed by two phylogenetic analysis using 18S rRNA and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequences, respectively. Based on these results, the isolated microalga belongs to the genus Chlamydomonas, and finally designated as Chlamydomonas sp. KIOST-1. In order to evaluate its potential for biofuel production, cellular components (protein, lipid, carbohydrate, ash and moisture) of the isolate were analyzed. According to the biochemical analysis of Chlamydomonas sp. KIOST-1, its protein, lipid, carbohydrate, ash and moisture contents were estimated to 53.5 ± 0.8%, 20.6 ± 0.8%, 16.9 ± 1.1%, 5.2 ± 1.2% and 3.9 ± 0.1%, respectively. Furthermore, protein and carbohydrate of the microalga were mainly comprised of glutamic-acid (11.6%) and D-glucose (49.7%), respectively. Interestingly, oleic acid (33.1 ± 0.1%) known as important sources for biodiesel production, were dominantly found from Chlamydomonas sp. KIOST-1. Based on these resultsbiofuel production. In this study, we evaluated the biofuel production potential of a newly isolated unicellular green microalga from freshwater in Korea. The isolated microalga was preliminarily analyzed by microscopic investigations and its taxonomical position was confirmed by two phylogenetic analysis using 18S rRNA and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequences, respectively. Based on these results, the isolated microalga belongs to the genus Chlamydomonas, and finally designated as Chlamydomonas sp. KIOST-1. In order to evaluate its potential for biofuel production, cellular components (protein, lipid, carbohydrate, ash and moisture) of the isolate were analyzed. According to the biochemical analysis of Chlamydomonas sp. KIOST-1, its protein, lipid, carbohydrate, ash and moisture contents were estimated to 53.5 ± 0.8%, 20.6 ± 0.8%, 16.9 ± 1.1%, 5.2 ± 1.2% and 3.9 ± 0.1%, respectively. Furthermore, protein and carbohydrate of the microalga were mainly comprised of glutamic-acid (11.6%) and D-glucose (49.7%), respectively. Interestingly, oleic acid (33.1 ± 0.1%) known as important sources for biodiesel production, were dominantly found from Chlamydomonas sp. KIOST-1. Based on these results