Botryococcus braunii
| Botryococcus braunii | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Botryococcus braunii | ||||||||||||
| Kütz. |
Botryococcus braunii is a green planktonic microalga of the order Chlorococcales (class Chlorophyceae ). The species that is widespread worldwide can only be found in freshwater. It is potentially of great importance for the generation of renewable energy sources.
Features and way of life
Botryococcus braunii forms 100–500 micrometer large colonies that are held together by a gel . Each individual cell is located in a gelatinous funnel made of layers that are nested like a bag. These funnels point with the pointed end in the middle of the colony and are connected there. The cells are 6-10 micrometers in length and lie on the outer edge of the colony.
The species is common as plankton in temperate or tropical oligotrophic lakes, ponds, and estuaries. An algal bloom can be triggered by phosphate . Because of the stored hydrocarbons, the colonies then rise and lie as fine dust on the surface of the water. It can produce large amounts of hydrocarbons, especially triterpenes . The amount can be up to 40% of the dry matter . Compared to other algae species, Botryococcus braunii has a relatively thick cell wall, which makes it difficult to extract cytoplasmic components. However, most of the hydrocarbons are located outside the cell wall.
Growing conditions
Botryococcus braunii grows best at a temperature of 23 ° C and a light intensity of 60 W / m², with a light incidence of 12 hours per day and a salinity of 0.15 mol NaCl.
Possible source for biofuels
Because of the hydrocarbons produced, Botryococcus braunii has great potential as a renewable raw material in algae cultures . Up to 86% of the dry weight can consist of long-chain hydrocarbons, depending on the strain mainly di- and trienes or triterpenes. These could be converted into petrol or diesel fuel in refinery-like processes, for example.
| component | % Dimensions |
|---|---|
| Isobotryococcene | 4% |
| Botryococci | 9% |
| C 34 H 58 | 11% |
| C 36 H 62 | 34% |
| C 36 H 62 (isomer) | 4% |
| C 37 H 64 | 20% |
| other hydrocarbons | 18% |
Patented strains
In 1988 the University of California was granted a patent for the Botryococcus braunii variety Showa , which was developed by Berkeley scientist Arthur Nonomura. Further patents were granted in 2006 for the development of improved rearing processes.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Entry on the species in: Guiry, MD & Guiry, GM: AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway, 2009, accessed November 2, 2009, online
- ↑ Heinz Streble , Dieter Krauter : Life in the water drop. Microflora and microfauna of freshwater. An identification book. 5th edition. Franckh, Stuttgart 1981, ISBN 3-440-04871-3 , p. 170.
- ↑ P. Metzger C. Largeau: Botryococcus braunii: a rich source for hydrocarbons and related ether lipids . In: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology . 6, No. 25, 2005, pp. 486-496. doi : 10.1007 / s00253-004-1779-z .
- ↑ Jian Qin: Bio-Hydrocarbons from Algae: Impacts of temperature, light and salinity on algae growth Archived from the original on August 3, 2008. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. In: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Australia . 2005.
- ↑ Algal Oil Yields - Yield Data for Oil from Algae Strains, Algae Species with High Oil Yields
- ↑ a b L.W. Hillen et al .: Hydrocracking of the Oils of Botryococcus braunii to Transport Fuels . In: Biotechnology and Bioengineering . 24, 1982, pp. 193-205. doi : 10.1002 / bit.260240116 .
- ↑ US Plant Patent 6169 ( Memento of the original from December 14, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ International patent application ( Memento of the original dated April 6, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
