Title: Comparative assessment of carbon sequestration potential of sodium bicarbonate supplemented marine and freshwater algae

Authors: Smriti Mehrotra; Bhawana Pathak

Addresses: School of Environment and Sustainable Development, Central University of Gujarat, Sector 30, Gandhinagar, 382030 Gujarat, India ' School of Environment and Sustainable Development, Central University of Gujarat, Sector 30, Gandhinagar, 382030 Gujarat, India

Abstract: The present study aims to compare the carbon sequestration potential of marine algae (Dunaliella salina) and freshwater algae (Scenedesmus dimorphus) by supplying sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) to the culture medium as a source of inorganic carbon. Increasing concentration of NaHCO₃ 0.25 g/l, 0.5 g/l, 0.75 g/l and 1 g/l was supplied to the culture medium of both algae. Results revealed maximum growth rate and biomass productivity at 0.5 g/l concentration, with Scenedesmus dimorphous obtaining a biomass productivity of 46.22 ± 2.13 mg/l/d in comparison to Dunaliella salina 38.92 ± 2.56 mg/l/d. However, lipid productivity was found to be highest at NaHCO₃ supplementation of 1 g/l in Dunaliella salina with 24.77 ± 1.23 mg/l/d. Thus these findings prove the freshwater microalgal strain of Scenedesmus dimorphous to be a potent carbon sequester and the marine strain of Dunaliella salina to be an efficient feedstock for biodiesel production.

Keywords: biomass productivity; CO₂ fixation rate; carbon sequestration; Dunaliella salina; Scenedesmus dimorphus; microalgae; sodium bicarbonate; lipid.

DOI: 10.1504/WRSTSD.2023.131927

World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, 2023 Vol.19 No.3, pp.241 - 254

Accepted: 23 Jun 2021
Published online: 05 Jul 2023 *

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