In Brazil, the Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) said a group of researchers from Brazil’s State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) have cultivated microalgae in a laboratory setting under carefully controlled conditions. Their primary aim was to harness the metabolites, particularly lipids, produced by these microorganisms to create biofuels.
Luisa Fernanda Ríos, one of the authors of the research, explained that besides utilizing the microalgae’s lipids for biofuel production, it’s also feasible to extract protein and carbohydrates from them to be used as food.
The research, which received support from FAPESP, focused on studying the growth and productivity of the microalga Botryococcus terribilis. The study involved analyzing the behavior of the microalgae in both open and closed systems.
The oils derived from B. terribilis have potential for biofuel production, as they consist of long-chain hydrocarbons and larger amounts of saturated and mono-unsaturated fatty acids, FAPESP said.
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