Isolation And Screening Of High-Lipid-Containing Microalgae From Limestone-Rich Aquatic Bodies In Ariyalur District

Abstract

The study focuses on the isolation and screening of microalgae from aquatic limestone mine environments, with an aim to identify high-performing candidate strains for applications such as biofuel production, wastewater treatment, and chemical extraction. The isolation process includes methods like serial dilution and the use of culture media to separate diverse microalgal species. Following isolation, the strains were screened based on growth rates, morphometric characteristics, and lipid content. To evaluate the biomass and lipid productivity of the isolates, experiments were conducted under controlled conditions, specifically using artificial lighting on an 8:16 hour light/dark cycle at a temperature of 25±2°C. Lipid quantification was performed gravimetrically, employing hexane as the extraction solvent. Among the tested isolates, Scenedesmus sp. stood out with impressive metrics: it achieved a growth rate of 5.73 g/l, a biomass of 3.56 g/l, and a lipid yield of 44.95% of dry cell weight measured on the 29th day of cultivation.The findings indicate that Scenedesmus sp. is the most promising candidate strain; however, the study also suggests that growth enhancement strategies and genetic engineering techniques could be applied to further optimize its biomass and lipid yields. This reflects a trend in biotechnology aiming to harness microalgae for sustainable energy and resource recovery.