Effect of Potassium Nitrate on Growth and Oil Content of Microalgae (Nanachloropsissp.)

Abstract

The production of biofuel from microalgae is motivated with increasing demand for and price of the fossil fuel and emission of the greenhouse gases. Microalgae have high potential to produce oil yield than the other oil seed crops. In Sri Lanka, only few studies have been conducted to produce biofuel from microalgae. The objective of the study was to find out the effect of Potassium nitrate (KN03) on the growth and oil content of microalgae. The experiment was performed in outdoor conditions. The microalgae were grown in Guillard and Ryther’s modified F medium with different concentrations of KN03. The well grown microalgae were harvested and dried under sunlight. Dry matter yield and oil content of each sample was estimated. The effects of KN03 concentration on dry matter content and oil content of microalgae were significantly different. The highest dry matter yield and highest oil content of microalgae were observed in 0.101g/L and 0.707g/L of KN03 concentrations, respectively compared to the Guillard and Ryther's modified F medium.