A Selection of Nitrogen Source for Biomass and Lipid Production of Scenedesmus dimorphus Microalgae

Algae are a group of photosynthetic organisms found in many diverse aquatic environments around the world with promising prospect for food to biofuel. In this study, Scenedesmus dimorphus species microalgae were cultured in batch cultures to assess the best nitrogen source for lipid production. S. dimorphus were cultured in NaNO3, (NH4)(2)HPO4 and urea as nitrogen source respectively and incubated at +/- 30 degrees C under 50 mu mol m(-2)s(-1) light intensity with 14:10 h light and dark cycle, aeration was conducted at constant rate of natural air. Growth response was analyzed by measuring optical density (OD) converted to Dry Cell Weight (DCW) and measured periodically. Lipid content were determined by modificated method by Bligh and Dyer. The maximum biomass during cultivation (1.006 +/- 0.022 g/L) was obtained in urea but the highest lipid content of the species (12.98 +/- 1.49 %) obtained in sodium nitrate. Fatty acids profile rich in palmitic and oleic acid. The results indicated potential high scale cultivation in urea.