Simultaneous bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons and production of biofuels by the micro-green alga, cyanobacteria, and its consortium

Abstract

There are two major problems in the world, fuel deficiency and environmental pollution by fossil fuels. Microalgae are regarded as one of the most feasible feedstocks for the manufacturing of biofuels and are used in the degradation of fossil fuel spills. The present study was possessed to investigate the ability of green alga Chlorella vulgaris, blue-green alga Synechococcus sp, and its consortium to grow and degrade hydrocarbon such as kerosene (k) with different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, and 1,5%), and also using algal biomasses to produce biofuel. The algal growth was estimated by optical density (O.D) at 600 nm, pigment contents such as Chlorophyll a,b carotenoid, and dry weight. The kerosene degradation was estimated by FT-IR analysis after and before the cultivation of algae and its consortium. The components of the methanol extract were determined by GC-MS spectroscopy. The results denote the best growth was determined by O.D, algae consortium with 1.5% Kerosene after ten days, meanwhile, the highest dry weight was with C. vulgaris after ten days of cultivation. The FT-IR demonstrated the algae and consortium possessed high efficacy to degrade kerosene. After 15 days of algae cultivation with 1% K, C.vulgaris produced the maximum amount of lipids (32%). The GC-MS profile of methanol extract of two algae and consortium demonstrated that Undecane was presented in high amounts, C.vulgaris (19.9%), Synechococcus sp (82.16%), algae consortium (79.51%), and also were presented moderate amounts of fatty acid methyl ester in Synechococcus sp. Overall, our results indicate that a consortium of algae can absorb and remove kerosene from water, and at the same time produce biofuels like biodiesel and petroleum-based fuels.