Starch and cell walls are the two major carbohydrate sources in microalgal biomass.  Cytoplasmic starch from microalgae could be a potential feedstock for biofuel production.  Accessing starch for fermentation and efficient extraction of lipid require breaking algal rigid cell walls. Significant energy inputs are required for mechanical cell disruption.  Biological treatments for the dissolution of cell walls may reduce the requirement for mechanical cell disruption.  In addition, biological treatment may facilitate a more refined stream of cell wall carbohydrates amenable for fermentation. Understanding the composition and structure of polysaccharides in microalgae is important for the efficient hydrolysis of microalgal cell walls and cytoplasmic carbohydrates.  Characterization of carbohydrates in the cell wall under different growth stages and environmental conditions will assist with the development of growth strategies to achieve efficient extraction and fuel production processes.  A sequential approach was developed for quantitative analysis of the carbohydrate compositions of microalgal biomass.  The cytoplasmic carbohydrates and cell wall compositions of four selected algal strains were analyzed and reported. The results demonstrate a significant effect of environmental conditions on starch levels and cell wall composition that vary with algal strain.

Quantification and characterization of carbohydrate compositions in microalgal biomass

239th National Meeting (2010)

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