044 -- Increasing Biodiesel Algal Lipid Density by Manipulating Glycerol Levels in Algal Growth Mediums

To many, algae are the pesky product of eutrophication in local lakes and ponds. In the laboratory, algae is a promising competitor for renewable resources of biodiesel. Algae is versatile in the way that it ingests a notable amount of carbon emissions from the atmosphere. These emissions are then converted into energy-dense lipids, which can be harvested and transformed into biofuel. Despite the advantages, the amount of lipid yield is not significant enough to be considered a worthwhile option. Before the fuel industry can accept algae farming as a worthy alternative to fossil fuels, the reason for harvesting must be maximized further. Our purpose aims to make algal lipid extraction more efficient by determining the ideal growing conditions of the algae species Chlorella Vulgaris. Our research explores ways to effectively quantify and compare the algal lipid yield to the various controlled algal growth media and environments. Particularly, testing involves a) the interconnectivity between different algal lipid density and growing mediums and b) the effects, if any, of glycerol. The algal media used were BG-11(algal culture medium) and BBM (Bold’s basal medium). Initial data suggested that density growth was higher when grown in the glycerol and BBM mixture. The results obtained with further experimentation are presented hereafter.