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T. Murugan ¹, U. S. Mahadeva Rao ²

Affiliations
1 SRM Arts and Science College, Kattankulathur, Tamilnadu - 603203, IN
2 University Sultan Zainal Abidin, 20400 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, MY

Abstract

Aim: The present study is to carry out in search of high biofuel producing microalgae from local fresh water bodies.

Objective: Biofuel is a clean burning fuel currently being produced from algae, vegetable oils or animal fats. Its chemical structure is that of fatty acid alkyl esters.

Methods: Biofuel is produced by trans-esterification of oils with short chain alcohols or by the esterification of fatty acids. The transesterification reaction consists of transforming triglycerides into fatty acid alkyl ester in the presence of an alcohol such as methanol or ethanol and catalyst such as an alkali or acid with glycerol as a by product. Water samples were aseptically collected from selected water bodies. They were subjected to physicochemical analysis and screening of biofuel producers.

Results: The isolated biofuel producing microalgae were grown on their respective media to obtain biomass and their biofuel producing efficacy. Among 5 species isolated one species showed that high biomass and biofuel yield.

Conclusion: It was concluded that the fresh water bodies found around Chennai are the richest source of native biofuel producers and the chlorella stood first in biofuel producing efficiency in our study.

Keywords

Biofuel, Triglyceride, Fatty Acid Alkyl Esters, Transesterification, Glycerol, Biomass..

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T. Murugan ¹, Radhamadhavan ²

Affiliations
1 SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, SRM University, Kattankulathur (T.N.), IN
2 Department of Microbiology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, SRM University, Kattankulathur (T.N.), IN

Abstract

The cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis, a photoautotroph, is a good food supplement because of its high protein content. It is also an excellent source of pigments like phycocyanin, vitamins and lipids. The present study was carried out to obtain enhanced yield of Spirulina biomass and the pigment C-phycocyanin. Modified Zarrouk's medium was used as the basal medium (it also served as control), in which four different supplements(Multivitamin tablets, Tender coconut water, Cow dung extract and Cow urine) at 4 different concentration i.e., 250mg, 500mg, 750mg and 1000mg/l for multivitamin tablets and 1ml, 10ml, 50ml and 100ml for tender coconut water, cow dung extract and cow urine were added. The cultivation was carried out in a 1000ml Erlenmeyer flask's for a period of 20 days at room temperature with artificial aeration and lighting. The growth was monitored by direct microscopic count (DMC), optical density (OD) and dry biomass on daily basis till 20^th day. It was observed that, the first two concentrations of all the four media promoted the growth whereas the last two did not favour the growth. Multivitamin at 250mg/l was found to be very good enhancer for biomass (2.84g/l) whereas, the cow urine at the concentration 10ml/l was the least enhancer (1.40g/l) when compared to control (2.46g/l). In terms of C-phycocyanin yield, the multivitamin at the concentration of 500mg/l showed the highest concentration (0.524mg/g (5.24%) of biomass mass).

Keywords

Spirulina platensis, Zarrouk’s Medium, C-Phycocyanin, DMC, OD, Biomass.

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T. Murugan ¹, Radhamadhavan ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Microbiology, S.R.M. Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, S.R.M. University, Kattankulathur, Kancheepuram (T.N.), IN

Abstract

C-phycocyanin was extracted from laboratory grown Spirulina platensis, and the identity was confirmed using standard Cphycocyanin, by HPTLC and SDS-PAGE. It was then partially purified and screened for antibacterial activity. The results were compared with standard C-phycocyanin (Sigma-Aldrich) and standard antibiotics. There were 6 bacterial isolates (Clinical isolates) assayed for antimicrobial activity. The study proved that the C-phycocyanin possessed antibacterial activity which was more potent than standard C-phycocyanin.

Keywords

C-Phycocyanin, Antimicrobial Activity, Partial Purification, Screening, Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations.

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