1Central University of Tamil Nadu, Neelakudy-610005, Tamil Nadu
2Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, P N Pudur, Coimbatore-641003, Tamil Nad
3Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012
*Corresponding author: suchitrar@cutn.ac.in
Online published on 30 September, 2019.
Microalgae can be an alternative to petroleum. In this paper, microalgal isolates were isolated from water samples of Tamil Nadu, India and were identified as Tetradesmus wisconsinensis and Botryococcus sp. by 18S rRNA neighbor-joining method. Nile red staining confirmed the presence of lipid in the cells. The total FAME (fatty acid methyl esters) content recorded for Botryococcus sp. was 39.11% followed by Tetradesmus wisconsinensis (35.23%). The major FAMEs observed in both the isolates were octadecadienoic acid methyl ester, octadecenoic acid methyl ester, and hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, which are responsible for biodiesel production. Biodiesel properties determined confirmed the potential of algal biodiesel as a substitute for diesel fuel.
Biodiesel, FAME, Microalgae, 18S rRNA
