Title: Screening, Morphological and Molecular Identification of Indigenous Microalgal Strains for Biodiesel Production
Authors: Abideen. A. Adekanmi , Abiodun. A. Onilude , Emmanuel. O.Garuba, Musa A. Adegboye Department of Microbiology,University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Volume: 9
Issue: 1
Pages: 59-71
Publication Date: 2025/01/28
Abstract:
In pursuing sustainable and eco-friendly energy sources, this study explores the potential use of microalgae as a biodiesel alternative to fossil diesel. Our study explores using an institution in a Southwestern Nigeria as a case study for the selection of suitable microalgae. Samples of water were collected from fishponds in the Western part of Nigeria. The technique of algae culturing was used for the isolation of microalgal strains. Microalgal screening for lipid capability production was carried out using Sudan black B and Volumetric Lipid Productivity (VLP). Morphological and molecular methods of morphological characteristics and 18S rRNA genes were used to identify strains with higher Lipid production. A total of l 36 microalgal were identified. Fifty strains were successfully isolated. Thirty-two out of the fifty showed black granules during primary screening with Sudan black B. 5, among 32 strains, had higher potential for production of lipids and identified as Scenedesmus obliquus-SeA, Chlorella vulgaris-ChA, Pediastrum duplex-PeD, Coelastrum morum-CoC, and Chlorococcum littorale-CiB. Scenedesmus obliquus-SeA with up to a 99% similarity index in comparison with data obtained from the NCBI database. Molecular identified strains of microalgae in this study are ideal and have good potential for fossil diesel replacement and the production of biodiesel.