Effect of light, nutrient, cultivation time and salinity on lipid production of newly isolated strain of the green microalga, Botryococcus braunii KMITL 2

Abstract 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 L −1 phosphorus ( PO 4 3 - – P ) under continuous illumination of 200 μE m −2  s −1 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.