Wavelength specificity of growth, photosynthesis, and hydrocarbon production in the oil-producing green alga Botryococcus braunii

Abstract

The effect of monochromatic light on growth, photosynthesis, and hydrocarbon production was tested in Botryococcus braunii Bot-144 (race B), which produces triterpenoid hydrocarbons. The growth was higher in order of red, blue, and green light. The color of red light-grown cells became more orange-yellow and their shape dominantly changed to grape-like with long branches. Photosynthetic carbon fixation activity was higher in order of blue, red, and green light-grown cells, but photosystem activities showed no difference. In the pulse-chase experiments with 14 CO 2 , no major difference was observed in the production of lipids, hydrocarbons, polysaccharides, or proteins among the three kinds of cells, although hydrocarbon production was slightly lower in green light-grown cells. These results indicate that blue and red light were more effective for growth, photosynthetic CO 2 fixation, and hydrocarbon production than green light, and that red light is the most efficient light source when calculated based on photoenergy supplied.

Effect of different light spectra on the growth and productivity of acclimated Nannochloropsis sp. (Eustigmatophyceae)

“…Many recent studies have shown that microalgae grown under monochromatic blue or red light exhibited similar or enhanced growth and productivity rates when compared to that of multi-chromatic white light [1][2][3]36]. By using selective wavelengths of incident light which are complementary or at least close to the maximum absorption of microalgae pigmentation, the use of other wavelengths which are poorly absorbed by the alga is avoided [1,27].…”

Effect of cobalt enrichment on growth and hydrocarbon accumulation of Botryococcus braunii with immobilized biofilm attached cultivation

“…Meanwhile, B. braunii is also a "famous" algal species for its slow growth rate as well as difficult in scaling up (Ruangsomboon, 2012;Baba et al, 2012). Recently, we introduced a novel cultivation system based on biofilm technology, which is called "attached cultivation" .…”

Microalgae cultivation in photobioreactors: An overview of light characteristics

“…Baba et al investigated the effect of the light wavelength on the growth and metabolism of Botryococcus braunii Bot‐144 and found that photosynthetic carbon fixation decreased in the order of blue, red, and green light, hydrocarbon production was slightly lower under green light conditions, and red light was optimal for growth. In addition, the results showed that the metabolism of B. braunii Bot‐144 was not influenced by a specific wavelength . The wastewater treatment process is also influenced by light wavelength.…”