Chen C. X. and Kamarudin K. F.

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OPTIMIZATION OF MICROALGAE CHLORELLA SP. AND SCENEDESMUS SP. AT DIFFERENT PARAMETERS USING DESIGN EXPERT   

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Abstract 

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This study aimed to evaluate the growth performance of locally isolated microalgae species Chlorella sp. UKM 8 and Scenedesmus sp. UKM 9 under varying growth parameters and determine their optimal cultivation conditions using Design Expert Software. The microalgae were cultivated in Bold’s Basal Medium (BBM) over 10 days, with light intensity, photoperiod and pH as the tested variables. Growth analysis revealed that light availability significantly affected the growth of both species. Continuous darkness (0/24H photoperiod) inhibited photosynthesis, leading to negative growth, while photoperiods of 12/12H and 24/0H supported optimal growth, confirming their photoautotrophic nature. The regression models derived from the optimization process accurately predicted growth conditions. For Chlorella sp. UKM 8, optimal growth parameters were 1146.71 lux, a 21.1811-hour photoperiod, and pH 7.7553, resulting in a growth rate of 0.3039 day-1. Scenedesmus sp. UKM 9 grew best at 1910.26 lux, a 12.204-hour photoperiod, and pH 7.8685, with a growth rate of 0.3139 day-1. The findings underscore the importance of optimizing cultivation conditions to enhance biomass production, offering valuable insights for sustainable microalgae-based energy solutions.

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