Effects of photoperiod, salinity and pH on cell growth and lipid content of Pavlova lutheri

The aim of the present work was to study the effects of photoperiod, salinity and pH on growth and lipid content of Pavlova lutheri microalgae for biodiesel production in small-scale and large-scale open-pond tanks. In a 250-mL flask, the cultures grew well under 24 h illumination with maximum specific growth rate, μ max, of 0.12 day-1 and lipid content of 35 as compared to 0.1 day-1 and 15 lipid content in the dark. The salinity was optimum for the cell growth at 30-35 ppt, but the lipid content of 34-36 was higher at 35-40 ppt. Algal growth and lipid accumulation was optimum at pH 8-9. Large-scale cultivation in 5-L and 30-L tanks achieved μ max of 0.13-0.14 day-1 as compared to 0.12 day -1 in small-scale and 300L cultures. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg and the University of Milan.