Dilip Singh

Characterization of a new zeaxanthin producing strain of Chlorella saccharophila isolated from New Zealand marine waters

A fast growing strain of Chlorella saccharophila was isolated from the marine water of New Zealand and grown in heterotrophic conditions using glucose or glycerol as a carbon source. Biomass production was found to be higher in culture fed with glucose (2.14±0.08 g L(-1)) as compared to glycerol (0.378±0.04 g L(-1)). Lipid accumulation was similar for both carbon sources, at approximately 22% of dry cell weight. However, carotenoid yield was higher with glycerol (0.406±0.0125 mg g(-1)) than with glucose (0.21±0.034 mg g(-1)). Further optimization of the growth of the isolate gave maximal carotenoid production of 16.39±1.19 mg g(-1) total carotenoid, containing 11.32±0.64 mg g(-1) zeaxanthin and 5.07±0.55 mg g(-1) β-carotene. Comparison of various chemical and physical carotenoid extraction methods showed that ultrasonication was required for maximum extraction yields. The new strain has potential for biofuel, with carotenoid co-production.

Exploring omega-3 fatty acids, enzymes and biodiesel producing thraustochytrids from Australian and Indian marine biodiversity

The marine environment harbours a vast diversity of microorganisms, many of which are unique, and have potential to produce commercially useful materials. Therefore, marine biodiversity from Australian and Indian habitat has been explored to produce novel bioactives, and enzymes. Among these, thraustochytrids collected from Indian habitats were shown to be rich in saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), together constituting 51–76 % of total fatty acids (TFA). Indian and Australian thraustochytrids occupy separate positions in the dendrogram, showing significant differences exist in the fatty acid profiles in these two sets of thraustochytrid strains. In general, Australian strains had a higher docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content than Indian strains with DHA at 17–31 % of TFA. A range of enzyme activities were observed in the strains, with Australian strains showing overall higher levels of enzyme activity, with the exception of one Indian strain (DBTIOC‐1). Comparative analysis of the fatty acid profile of 34 strains revealed that Indian thraustochytrids are more suitable for biodiesel production since these strains have higher fatty acids content for biodiesel (FAB, 76 %) production than Australian thraustochytrids, while the Australian strains are more suitable for omega‐3 (40 %) production.

High-Value Coproducts from Algae—An Innovational Way to Deal with Advance Algal Industry

Expanded worldwide energy consumption and usage of fossil fuel cause its exhaustion and create energy crises, fuel security, global warming that have prompted a development of energy from alternative biomass that is renewable, economical, and eco-friendly. First- and second-generation biomass types, nonetheless, are frequently reprimanded because of displacement of food and the amount of crops it takes to deliver a gallon of oil. Algae to biodiesel (third-generation biofuel) have gained attention by many researchers, experts from petroleum industry as inexhaustible reliable and secure source of energy. Department of Energy, Govt. of USA, has investigated that algae grow much faster than terrestrial plants which give 30 times more energy yield per acre than land crops such as soybeans. Algae are a renewable bioresource that use sunlight, mitigate CO2 emissions, reduced nutrients (N, P, and K) from waste streams and water, and produce biomass in the form of sugars, proteins, and oils that can be processed into both biofuels and valuable coproducts. In light of utilization, worldwide algal products are separated into nutraceuticals, nourishment and bolster supplements, pharmaceuticals, paints, colorants, etc. Algal-derived coproducts such as carotenoids, β-carotene, omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (docosahexaenoic acid and eicosahexaenoic), astaxanthin, squalene, phycobiliproteins have increased popularity from the neutraceuticals and pharmaceutical industry and are relied upon to give high income to the algae producing companies around the world. A few algal strains with a high wholesome esteem and vitality content are developed industrially as aquaculture feed and are also a potential source of lipids, ethanol, and hydrogen. In this chapter, we attempt to elucidate the primary existing and potential high-value coproducts and its commercial significance, algal species used and market sizes, trends, and future prospects.