The effect of different light conditions on Chlorella Sp. growth and lipid production

School Name

Spring Valley High School

Grade Level

10th Grade

Presentation Topic

Biochemistry

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Oral Presentation Award

1st Place

Abstract

The need for fossil fuels in transportation usage has exhausted the fossil fuel supply and increased the demand for it or need for change in the types of fuel used in transportation. The most effective solution would be to use algae biofuels. This research was aimed to find the best strain of Chlorella spirulina for biofuels. The research was to cultivate the Chlorella sp. under different light conditions to determine if the different light conditions would increase lipid growth in the algae. It was hypothesized that the Chlorella sp. grown under the yellow light filters would produce more algae and produce the most lipids needed to make biofuels. The Chlorella sp. was placed under a grow light where they were separated into four different light filter groups, no filter, yellow, orange, and blue filter. The Chlorella Sp. was grown for 2 ½ weeks. Energy yield of the algae was measured using a calorimeter and the amount of energy present in the algae was determined by calculating temperature differences, final temp- initial temp, and results showed that there was no significant difference (F(3,20)=1.37, p=0.280) in the algae grown in different light filters. Therefore, the hypothesis was not supported. In conclusion, the impact of yellow light on lipid growth and overall growth is no greater than the impact of other types of lights such as orange light and white light.

Location

Wall 118

Start Date

3-25-2017 10:45 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 25th, 10:45 AM

The effect of different light conditions on Chlorella Sp. growth and lipid production

Wall 118

The need for fossil fuels in transportation usage has exhausted the fossil fuel supply and increased the demand for it or need for change in the types of fuel used in transportation. The most effective solution would be to use algae biofuels. This research was aimed to find the best strain of Chlorella spirulina for biofuels. The research was to cultivate the Chlorella sp. under different light conditions to determine if the different light conditions would increase lipid growth in the algae. It was hypothesized that the Chlorella sp. grown under the yellow light filters would produce more algae and produce the most lipids needed to make biofuels. The Chlorella sp. was placed under a grow light where they were separated into four different light filter groups, no filter, yellow, orange, and blue filter. The Chlorella Sp. was grown for 2 ½ weeks. Energy yield of the algae was measured using a calorimeter and the amount of energy present in the algae was determined by calculating temperature differences, final temp- initial temp, and results showed that there was no significant difference (F(3,20)=1.37, p=0.280) in the algae grown in different light filters. Therefore, the hypothesis was not supported. In conclusion, the impact of yellow light on lipid growth and overall growth is no greater than the impact of other types of lights such as orange light and white light.