초록
The present investigation evaluates the potential of an endolithic cyanobacterium isolated from marble rock to utilize sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO<SUB>3</SUB>) as carbon source for prospective recycling of CO<SUB>2</SUB> into biodiesel. Microalgae thriving on marble were cultured and subjected to increasing NaHCO<SUB>3</SUB> concentration. The most competent isolate was identified and characterized in terms of growth, lipid content and fatty acid profile. A semicontinuous mesh incubator was designed for biofilm development. Isolate ISTCY101 was identified as Leptolyngbya sp. by 16S rRNA sequencing. Leptolyngbya ISTCY101 efficiently used BG-11 (50mM NaHCO<SUB>3</SUB>) and artificial seawater medium (25gL<SUP>-1</SUP> NaCl) with biomass productivity 78.9 and 75.74mgL<SUP>-1</SUP>d<SUP>-1</SUP>, respectively. Maximum areal biomass productivity of 2.01gm<SUP>-2</SUP>d<SUP>-1</SUP> was recorded in the mesh incubator, with complete exclusion of centrifugation for harvesting. Lipid content varied from 16% to 21%, consisting predominantly of C16:0, C16:1, C18:0, C18:1 fatty acids (>60%) making promising feedstock for biodiesel production.