This work reported for the first time the detailed impacts of cultivation period on growth dynamics and biochemical composition of a microalga strain Nannochloropsis gaditana 1049. The results shown either the biomass accumulation, lipid content, neutral lipid content, monounsaturated fatty acids composition or the favorable fatty acid profile of C16-C18 increased along with the cultivation period extension, but the lipid productivity displayed a decrease since cultured for 16 days, with the highest value reached 289.51 ± 16.34 mg L(-1) d(-1). Biodiesel properties of this microalga also changed with the cultivation period extension, with average unsaturated degree decreased from 1.24 ± 0.03 to 0.59 ± 0.02, cloud point increased from 3.39 ± 0.40 °C to 12.14 ± 0.32 °C, cetane number increased from 54.59 ± 0.20 to 58.96 ± 0.16 and iodine number reduced sharply from 105.15 ± 2.24 gI2/100g to 56.44 ± 1.76 gI2/100g, which all satisfied the specifications of biodiesel standard.
Keywords: Biodiesel properties; Cultivation period; Fatty acid profile; Lipid productivity; Nannochloropsis gaditana.
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