The green microalga strain, Botryococcus braunii KMITL 2, was isolated from a freshwater reservoir in central
Thailand, and the effects of light, nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, cultivation time and salinity on lipid
production were studied by varying parameters one at a time. When cultured in Chlorella medium containing
222 mg L1 phosphorus (PO3
4 —P) under continuous illumination of 200 lE m2 s1 with a salinity
of 0 psu, a maximum lipid content of 54.69 ± 3.13% was obtained. Its high lipid content makes strain
KMITL 2 a potential source for biodiesel production in tropical regions.
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