In the selection of the most adequate species or strains for biodiesel
production, many parameters should be considered, such as
the ability of microalgae to develop using the nutrients available or
under specific environmental conditions. So, the thermo-tolerant
marine diatom Chaetoceros muelleri (Bacillariophyceae) and the
halotolerant green microalga Dunaliella salina (Chlorophyceae)
were chosen to study. C. muelleri is commonly used marine unicellular
alga in many mariculture systems (Parrish et al., 1999) and
grow well in large-scale cultures, either indoors or outdoors (Lourenço
et al., 2002). D. salina is the richest algal source of b-carotene
and glycerol (Raja et al., 2007). Because these species can grow in
extreme conditions, parasitic contamination is avoided and maximum
productivity can be achieved. If the lipid content of them
can be enhanced then these two microalgae would be suitable candidates
for biodiesel production.