• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.1399-1409
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• 2019

Biodiesel is a renewable and environmentally friendly liquid biofuel for transportation. Insect is considered as a new valuable biomass to convert into biodiesel. In particular, BSF(Black Soldier Fly) containing high fat is a renewable source of biodiesel. Biodiesel drived BSF has high concentration of saturated fatty acid methyl ester and low concentration of polyunsaturted fatty acid methyl ester which makes it potentially an ideal substrate for producing excellent quality biodiesel. Most of the fuel properties of BSF biodiesel were met the requirements of standard EN 14214. BSF have a higher lipid yield and biodiesel productivity as compared to microalgae and vegetable oils. This review paper includes the overall summary and compilation of the insect research conducted on biodiesel production and includes the BSF biodiesel properties.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.222-228
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• 2022

As a possible feedstock for biodiesel, the marine green alga Tetraselmis sp. was cultivated under different conditions of phototrophic, mixotrophic and heterotrophic cultures. Glycerol, a byproduct from biodiesel production process, was used as the carbon source of mixotrophic and heterotrophic culture. The effects of glycerol supply and nitrate-repletion were compared for different trophic conditions. Mixotrophic cultivation exhibited higher biomass productivity than that of phototrophic and heterotrophic cultivation. Maximum lipid productivity of 55.5 mg L^-1 d^-1 was obtained in the mixotrophic culture with 5 g L^-1 of glycerol and 8.8 mM of nitrate due to the enhancement of both biomass and lipid accumulation. The major fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) in the produced biodiesel were palmitic acid (C16:0), oleic acid (C18:1), linoleic acid (C18:2), and linolenic acid (C18:3). The degree of unsaturation was affected by different culture conditions. The biodiesel properties predicted by correlation equations based on the FAME profiles mostly complied with the specifications from the US, Europe and Korea, with the exception of the cold-filter plugging point (CFPP) criterion of Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.109-118
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• 2015

Open raceway ponds are cost-efficient for mass cultivation of microalgae compared with photobioreactors. Although low-cost options like wastewater as nutrient source is studied to overcome the commercialization threshold for biodiesel production from microalgae, a cost analysis on the use of wastewater and other incremental increases in productivity has not been elucidated. We determined the effect of using wastewater and wavelength filters on microalgal productivity. Experimental results were then fitted into a model, and cost analysis was performed in comparison with control raceways. Three different microalgal strains, Chlorella vulgaris AG10032, Chlorella sp. JK2, and Scenedesmus sp. JK10, were tested for nutrient removal under different light wavelengths (blue, green, red, and white) using filters in batch cultivation. Blue wavelength showed an average of 27% higher nutrient removal and at least 42% higher chemical oxygen demand removal compared with white light. Naturally, the specific growth rate of microalgae cultivated under blue wavelength was on average 10.8% higher than white wavelength. Similarly, lipid productivity was highest in blue wavelength, at least 46.8% higher than white wavelength, whereas FAME composition revealed a mild increase in oleic and palmitic acid levels. Cost analysis reveals that raceways treating wastewater and using monochromatic wavelength would decrease costs from 2.71 to 0.73 $/kg biomass. We prove that increasing both biomass and lipid productivity is possible through cost-effective approaches, thereby accelerating the commercialization of low-value products from microalgae, like biodiesel.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2016

Microalgae are considered as superior biodiesel producers, because they could effectively produce high amount of lipid with fast growth rate. In this study, Chlorella vulgaris was exposed to various light wavelengths (${\lambda}_{max}$ 470 nm, ${\lambda}_{max}$ 525 nm, and ${\lambda}_{max}$ 660 nm) using light emitting diodes (LEDs) to examine effect of light quality on their growth and fatty acid production in 0.4-L bubble column photobioreactors. Fluorescent lamps were also used as polychromatic light sources (control). From the results, biomass productivity was varied by light wavelength from 0.05 g/L/day to 0.30 g/L/day. Maximum biomass productivity was obtained from red LED among tested ones. We also observed that contents of oleic acid and linolenic acid, which affect biodiesel properties, were significantly changed depending on supplied wavelength. These results indicated that production of algal biomass, and fatty acid content and productivity could be improved or controlled by supplying specific light wavelength.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2019

For successful microalgal biodiesel production, the strain should be selected carefully. Fast growth rate and high fatty acid contents are desired traits for algal biodiesel production. In ocean cultivation of microalgae, seawater temperature slowly changes over seasons, and rotating algal strains in accordance with their optimal temperature could improve overall productivity. Additionally, use of indigenous strain is preferred to alleviate potential impacts on the environment. In this study, five strains of Tetraselmis sp. from nearshore of Youngheung Island, Incheon, Korea, were isolated during winter and characterized for their growth patterns and fatty acid compositions in the low temperatures ($5-15^{\circ}C$). The five strains showed various characteristics in optimal growth temperature, fatty acid contents, and compositions. Compared with a strain of Tetraselmis sp., isolated from Ganghwa island in a previous study, a rapid-growing strain with 237% higher biomass productivity and an oleaginous strain with twice higher fatty acid contents at $10^{\circ}C$ were isolated. The oleaginous Tetraselmis strain showed the highest fatty acid productivity among the strains, having 438% higher productivity than the previous strain. Using the new isolates in the seasons with low seawater temperature would improve microalgal fatty acid productivity in ocean cultivation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.1325-1334
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• 2022

Global warming has accelerated in recent decades due to the continuous consumption of petroleum-based fuels. Cyanobacteria-derived biofuels are a promising carbon-neutral alternative to fossil fuels that may help achieve a cleaner environment. Here, we propose an effective strategy based on the large-scale cultivation of a newly isolated cyanobacterial strain to produce phycobiliprotein and biodiesel, thus demonstrating the potential commercial applicability of the isolated microalgal strain. A native cyanobacterium was isolated from Goryeong, Korea, and identified as Pseudanabaena mucicola GO0704 through 16s RNA analysis. The potential exploitation of P. mucicola GO0704 was explored by analyzing several parameters for mixotrophic culture, and optimal growth was achieved through the addition of sodium acetate (1 g/l) to the BG-11 medium. Next, the cultures were scaled up to a stirred-tank bioreactor in mixotrophic conditions to maximize the productivity of biomass and metabolites. The biomass, phycobiliprotein, and fatty acids concentrations in sodium acetate-treated cells were enhanced, and the highest biodiesel productivity (8.1 mg/l/d) was achieved at 96 h. Finally, the properties of the fuel derived from P. mucicola GO0704 were estimated with converted biodiesels according to the composition of fatty acids. Most of the characteristics of the final product, except for the cloud point, were compliant with international biodiesel standards [ASTM 6761 (US) and EN 14214 (Europe)].

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.910-917
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• 2015

A total of 646 strains, including green algae and diatoms, were isolated from 220 samples to screen microalgae with high lipid productivity (LP). The samples were obtained from nine habitats in Northern Xinjiang, China in June 2013. This study initially identified eight lipidrich strains, namely, Desmodesmus intermedius XJ-498, D. intermedius XJ-145, D. intermedius XJ-99, Monoraphidium pusillum XJ-489, M. dybowskii XJ-435, M. dybowskii XJ-151, Mychonastes homosphaera XJ-488, and Podohedriella falcata XJ-176, based on 18S rDNA sequencing. The strains were cultured in a photobioreactor for the same period. Results showed that the specific growth rate (day^-1) of M. pusillum XJ-489 was the highest (1.14 ± 0.06), and the biomass concentration (g/l) of D. intermedius XJ-99 was the highest (2.84 ± 0.3). Futhermore, the lipid content (%) of M. dybowskii XJ-151 was the highest (33.5 ± 4.38), and the lipid productivity (mg l^-1 day^-1) of My. homosphaera XJ-488 was the highest (86.41 ± 9.04). C16 to C18 accounted for 86% to 98% of the total lipid, and the biodiesel qualities of the selected algae corresponded to international standards. This study suggests that My. homosphaera XJ-488, D. intermedius XJ-99, and M. dybowskii XJ-151 are the most potential strains for biodiesel production among all the isolated strains.

• ALGAE
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.67-79
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• 2015

Planktivorous fish which limit zooplankton grazing have been predicted to increase algal biodiesel production in wastewater fed open reactors. In addition, tanks with higher algal diversity have been predicted to be more stable, more productive, and to more fully remove nutrients from wastewater. To test these predictions, we conducted a 14-week experiment in Houston, TX using twelve 2,270-L open tanks continuously supplied with wastewater. Tanks received algal composition (monocultures or diverse assemblage) and trophic (fish or no fish) treatments in a full-factorial design. Monocultures produced more algal and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) mass than diverse tanks. More than 80% of lipids were converted to FAME indicating potentially high production for conversion to biodiesel (up to $0.9T\;ha^{-1}y^{-1}$). Prolific algal growth lowered temperature and levels of total dissolved solids in the tanks and increased pH and dissolved oxygen compared to supply water. Algae in the tanks removed 91% of nitrate-N and 53% of phosphorus from wastewater. Monocultures were not invaded by other algal species. Fish did not affect any variables. Our results indicated that algae can be grown in open tank bioreactors using wastewater as a nutrient source. The stable productivity of monocultures suggests that this may be a viable production method to procure algal biomass for biodiesel production.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.235-243
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• 2011

The non-edible plant Jatropha curcas L. is one of the most promising feedstock for sustainable biodiesel production as it is not a source of edible vegetable oils, produces high amounts of oil (approx. 30-60% in dry seeds) and does not require high-cost maintenance. However, as with other undomesticated crops, the cultivation of J. curcas presents several drawbacks, such as low productivity and susceptibility to pests. Hence, varietal improvement by genetic engineering is essential if J. curcas is to become a viable alternative source of biodiesel. There is to date no well-established and efficient transformation system for J. curcas. In this study, we tested various physical wounding treatments, such as sonication and sand-vortexing, with the aim of developing an efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation for J. curcas. The highest stable transformation rate (53%) was achieved when explants were subjected to 1 min of sonication followed by 9 min of shaking in Agrobacterium suspension. The transformation frequency achieved using this protocol is the highest yet reported for J. curcas.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.553-558
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• 2014

Microalgae are a promising alternative feedstock for biodiesel production because their growth rates and oil contents are higher than those of conventional energy crops. Microalgal lipid is mainly triacylglyceride that can be converted to biodiesel as fatty acid methyl esters through trans-esterification. In this paper, the influence of several important lipid inducing factors such as nutrient limitation and changes in salinity and metallic components in microalgae and their potential strategies to be used for biodiesel production are reviewed. Depending upon strains/species that we use, microalgae react to stresses by producing different amount of triacylglyceride and/or by altering their fatty acids composition. Although the most widely applied method is the nitrogen starvation, other potential factors, including nutrient surplus conditions and changes in salinity, pH, temperature and metal concentrations, should be considered to increase biodiesel productivity.