Study of UV-B Mutation Effect on pH Resistance and Lipid Production of Microalgae Botryococcus braunii

Soedarmodjo, Thea Prastiwi (Departement of Chemical Engineering Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya)
Rachma, Fanina Aulia (Departement of Chemical Engineering Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya)
Aparamarta, Hakun Wirawista (Departement of Chemical Engineering Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya)
Widjaja, Arief (Departement of Chemical Engineering Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya)

IPTEK The Journal for Technology and Science
Vol 30, No 3 (2019)

Microalgae Botryococcus braunii is a potential biodiesel producer as an alternative for fossil fuels due to its high lipid content. UV-B mutations were carried out to see the effect in microalgae growth at various pHs (3-8). Reduction of nitrogen levels was carried out to see the effect on the growth and lipid production of microalgae. UV-B mutation increased the ability of growth and resistance of B. braunii against low pH. Under low nitrogen conditions, the growth of B. braunii cells would not continue for a longer time. B. braunii which grow in nitrogen depletion medium produced lipid content greater than normal nitrogen. UV-B light mutation also increased the lipid content of B. braunii. At 7 days of incubation, the mutation not only increased lipid content, but also significantly increased the TAG content of B. braunii lipids.