Effect of phytochemical vanillic acid on the growth and lipid accumulation of freshwater microalga Euglena gracilis

AbstractA feasible approach against the low yield of microalgae biomass involves the use of a stimulator for microalgal growth. In this research, vanillic acid present in the hydrolysate of agricultural waste, was applied to the cultivation of unicellular microalgaEuglena gracilis. At the optimal dosage of 800  mg L−1 vanillic acid, biomass yield at treatment increased 2.08-fold. Correspondingly, the content of chlorophylla and carotenoids was 3.48 and 2.69 fold than of the control ground, respectively. Increased in cell aspect ratio demonstrated that the alga was more active after vanillic acid treatment. Furthermore, relative lipid and carbohydrate content were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the result showed that vanillic acid increased the lipid content  in algal cells without sacrificing biomass, which would be a promising way for future biofuel production.Graphical abstract
Source: World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology - Category: Microbiology Source Type: research