Isolation and biochemical characterization of microalgae from waterlogged areas of Southwest Punjab

Abstract

Microalgae are considered as a potential feedstock for producing sustainable biofuel. The high growth rate and ability to rapidly improve the strains for high lipid and carbohydrate content without competing for arable land, makes microalgae a viable option for sustainable fuel production. Five microalgae designated as MA-1, MA-2, MA-3, MA-4 and MA-5 were isolated from the waterlogged areas of villages Theri, Ghagga and Gurusar of district Muktsar, Punjab. On the basis of optical and scanning electron microscopy, these microalgal isolates were found to be round in shape, green coloured and unicellular in structure and were tentatively identified as Chlorella sp. Chlorella sp. MA-1 was found to be fast growing with maximum absorbance (A_600nm), viable cell count and chlorophyll content of 3.26, 369.4×10⁵ cfu/mL and 24.31 mg/g dry wt., respectively at 5 days after culturing (DAC) However, significantly high total soluble protein content of 11.42% was found in this isolate at 5 days after culturing. Chlorella sp. MA-3 showed significantly high total carbohydrate content of 5.10 percent at 5 days after culturing (DAC), whereas the total lipid content was found to be significantly high in Chlorella sp. MA- 2 (4.16%) at 7 DAC. Alteration in the environmental and culturing conditions can further improve the chemical constituents of these microalgal isolates to improve biofuel production.