Abstract
The fresh water microalga Stigeoclonium sp., Kutz. BUM11007 was investigated for their property to be a suitable candidate for biodiesel production. The growth, lipid content and fatty acid profiles of the organism were determined under both normal and nitrogen free conditions with Chu 10 medium. A maximum biomass concentration 2.84 +/- 0.11 g/l with lipid content 138.21 +/- 9.82 mg/g and lipid productivity 15.07 +/- 0.67 mg/l.d was obtained under nutrient sufficient condition. In contrast to which under nitrogen depleted regimes in a two phase culturing system, biomass yield 2.798 +/- 0.18 g/l with increased lipid content 407.18 +/- 11.6 mg/g at lipid productivity 43.68 +/- 1.82 mg/l.d were recorded. The fatty acid methyl ester profiles revealed the presence of 16:0 (palmitic), 18:0 (stearic), 18:1 (oleic) and 18:2 (linoleic) methyl esters as the major components. The results show the ability of the algae to be a promising feedstock source for biodiesel production.