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Influence of Exogenous CO2 on Biomass and Lipid Accumulation of Microalgae Auxenochlorella protothecoides Cultivated in Concentrated Municipal Wastewater

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Abstract

The effects of exogenous CO2 on the growth and lipid accumulation of a local screened facultative heterotrophic microalgae strain Auxenochlorella protothecoides (UMN280) as well as nutrient removal from concentrated municipal wastewater stream (centrate) were examined in this study. A 12-day batch experiment was conducted with CO2 aeration at three levels, namely, 0%, 1%, and 5% (v/v) CO2 mixed with air, under light intensity of 60 μmol/(m2 @@s). A two-stage growth pattern was observed. The first stage (first–fifth day) was dominated by heterotrophic growth in which organic carbon was the main carbon source. The second stage (6th–12th day) was dominated by autotrophic growth in which exogenous CO2 had a positive effect on algal biomass accumulation. The addition of 5% CO2 was better than that of 1% CO2 on the biomass and lipid production. The uptakes of nutrients were similar between injection and no injection of CO2, except on phosphorus removal which was affected by the acidification of CO2.

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Acknowledgement

The study was supported by grants from the University of Minnesota Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment (IREE) and Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES), as well as the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resource (LCCMR). The authors are also grateful to Robert C. Polta and Adam Sealock of Saint Paul MCES Wastewater Treatment Plant for hel** with the sample collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Biorefining and Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Ave, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA

    Bing Hu, Min Min, Wenguang Zhou, Yecong Li, Michael Mohr, Yanling Cheng, Yuhuan Liu, **angyang Lin, Paul Chen & Roger Ruan

  2. Biological Systems Engineering, Washington State University, Richland, WA, 99354, USA

    Hanwu Lei

  3. Biomass Energy Center and State Key Laboratory of Food Science, Nanchang University, Jiangxi, 330047, China

    Yuhuan Liu & Roger Ruan

  4. College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Fuzhou University, Fujian, 350108, China

    **angyang Lin

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  1. Bing Hu
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Correspondence to Roger Ruan.

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Hu, B., Min, M., Zhou, W. et al. Influence of Exogenous CO2 on Biomass and Lipid Accumulation of Microalgae Auxenochlorella protothecoides Cultivated in Concentrated Municipal Wastewater. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 166, 1661–1673 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-012-9566-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-012-9566-2

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