The growth and oil production of nine Chlorella strains were comparatively assessed and Chlorella protothecoides
CS-41 demonstrated the greatest lipid production potential. The effects of different nitrogen
forms and concentrations, phosphorus concentrations and light intensities on growth and oil production
were studied in laboratory columns. C. protothecoides CS-41 accumulated lipids up to 55% of dry weight,
with triacylglycerol and oleic acid being 71% of total lipids and 59% of total fatty acids, respectively. High
biomass and lipid productivities were achieved in outdoor panel PBRs, up to 1.25 and 0.59 g L1 day1
, or
44. 1 and 16.1 g m2 day1
, respectively. A two-stage cultivation strategy was proposed to enhance the
algal biomass and lipid production. This is the first comprehensive investigation of both indoor and outdoor
photoautotrophic C. protothecoides cultures for oil production, and C. protothecoides CS-41 represents
a promising biofuel feedstock worthy of further exploration.
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