Effect of light intensity and pH condition on the growth, biomass and lipid content of microalgae Scenedesmus species

The physiological factors for microalgae cultivation are the preliminary steps to overcome the potential biomass demand. In this regard, the influence of light intensity (at six levels: 27, 40.5, 54, 67.5, 81 and 94.5 µmol m−2s−1) and pH conditions (5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0) on the growth and lipid production of Scenedesmus species ADIITEC-II and GUBIOTJT116 was compared in the batch culture. Among the studied species, maximum specific growth (0.334 ± 0.002 day−1) and highest biomass yield (0.41 ± 0.021 g L−1) was achieved for Scenedesmus species ADIITEC-II at light intensity 81 µmol m−2s−1. Similarly, Scenedesmus species GUBIOTJT116 showed increased growth and biomass production at 81 µmol m−2s−1. However, illumination under 94.5 µmol m−2s−1 showed higher lipid production (0.533 ± 0.001 g L−1 and 0.551 ± 0.001 g L−1) for Scenedesmus sp. ADIITEC-II and GUBIOTJT116, respectively. The significant variation in effective pH tolerance, growth and biomass production was observed in the studied pH range. The result obtained in this study provides a potential insight of the strains and could be further explored to improve the biomass and lipid yield.