Assessing the suitability of Pleurochrysis and associated strains, for simultaneous biofuel production and carbon capture
type: CreativeWork
description: Pleurochrysis and Chrysotila are coccolithophorid algae (Haptophycea), which are mainly marine unicellular phytoplankton. The coccolithophorids are of global interest as they can fix carbon by photosynthesis, as well forming calcium carbonate coccoliths. They are the largest carbon sinks and one of the largest primary producers of biomass on the planet, with their ancestors being responsible for the deposition of large quantities of chalk. They can also produce high amounts of lipids, which have a high potential application as a renewable fuel and alternative food source. The objective of this study was to investigate the suitability of different strains of Pleurochrysis and Chrysotila for simultaneous biofuel production and carbon capture, and to explore the potential of a biorefinery approach to achieve this. The initial twelve strains provided by the Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa (CCAP) were assessed for their morphological characteristics, in order to assess their suitability for further experimentation. Subsequently, growth optimisation was then performed on a variety of different species, as well as isolates that had not been identified to species level. These included Pleurochrysis sp. CCAP 944/4, Chrysotila carterae CCAP 944/6, Chrysotila carterae CCAP 961/2, Chrysotila carterae CCAP 961/1, Chrysotila carterae CCAP 961/4, Chrysotila carterae CCAP 961/5 and Chrysotila carterae CCAP 961/8. Further experimentation was then undertaken to the assess the potential of carbon sequestration via calcite formation within these cells. Understanding the process in which carbon is incorporated into the cells and understanding the conditions that promoted the production of extracellular coccoliths became key when understanding the conditions in which these coccoliths detach from the cells. Cells were assessed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and subjected to different environmental stresses to induce the removal of coccoliths. The most productive strains w…
abstract: Pleurochrysis and Chrysotila are coccolithophorid algae (Haptophycea), which are mainly marine unicellular phytoplankton. The coccolithophorids are of global interest as they can fix carbon by photosynthesis, as well forming calcium carbonate coccoliths. They are the largest carbon sinks and one of the largest primary producers of biomass on the planet, with their ancestors being responsible for the deposition of large quantities of chalk. They can also produce high amounts of lipids, which have a high potential application as a renewable fuel and alternative food source. The objective of this study was to investigate the suitability of different strains of Pleurochrysis and Chrysotila for simultaneous biofuel production and carbon capture, and to explore the potential of a biorefinery approach to achieve this. The initial twelve strains provided by the Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa (CCAP) were assessed for their morphological characteristics, in order to assess their suitability for further experimentation. Subsequently, growth optimisation was then performed on a variety of different species, as well as isolates that had not been identified to species level. These included Pleurochrysis sp. CCAP 944/4, Chrysotila carterae CCAP 944/6, Chrysotila carterae CCAP 961/2, Chrysotila carterae CCAP 961/1, Chrysotila carterae CCAP 961/4, Chrysotila carterae CCAP 961/5 and Chrysotila carterae CCAP 961/8. Further experimentation was then undertaken to the assess the potential of carbon sequestration via calcite formation within these cells. Understanding the process in which carbon is incorporated into the cells and understanding the conditions that promoted the production of extracellular coccoliths became key when understanding the conditions in which these coccoliths detach from the cells. Cells were assessed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and subjected to different environmental stresses to induce the removal of coccoliths. The most productive strains w…
author: Reid, Jennifer
language: eng
date published: 2017-3-14
date modified: 2026-07-24T05:12:04Z
provider: University of the Highlands and Islands
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Edinburgh