PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

Algae biodiesel is undeniably very promising as an energy substitute for fossil fuel. It mass cultivation though requires huge capital investment. The aim of this study was to find a simple, inexpensive and tolerable media for algae growth. The optimal growth conditions for algae growth were studied. Botryococcus sp. was isolated from Sembrong Dam in Johor, Malaysia. In this study, two media were used, namely bold's basal medium (BBM) and synthetic media from nitrogen and phosphorus compound. The synthetic media consisted of ammonium chloride and monopotassium phosphate that were blended together and modified into desired ratios. The N: P ratio of 1.5:1 yielded the highest chlorophyll-a concentration and the optimal growth conditions of algae for both media were at 6000 Lux, pH 7 and 30 rpm. The BMM had the highest algae growth, 3.25 x 10⁷cell/ml while the synthetic media yielded a maximum cell concentration of up to 1.025 x 107 cell/ml which is 68.5% lower compared with BBM. The findings of this study point to the importance of large scale production of algae useful for industrial production of biodiesel.