Influence of Molasses on Growth, Biochemical Composition and Ethanol Production of the Green Algae Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus

Abstract

Two green algae (Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus) were grown under mixotrophic and heterotrophic conditions using molasses as carbon source. Under both growth conditions, the growth rate, carbohydrate and protein contents increased by the increased concentrations of molasses. The pigment fractions and lipid contents increased in response to increasing molasses concentrations under mixotrophic conditions for both algae, whereas they decreased under heterotrophic conditions till the algal cells become bright yellow. The biomass of C. vulgaris and S. obliquus grown on molasses under heterotrophic conditions were used to protein fractionation and production of ethanol.