Oil production by the marine microalga Nannochloropsis sp. F&M-M24

The marine microalga Nannochloropsis sp. has been cultivated outdoors in a 600-L "Green Wall Panel" and the quality and quantity of the produced fat evaluated in view of biodiesel production. Lipid extracts were characterized in terms of lipid distribution between neutral and polar lipids as well as phospholipids. The results obtained by analyzing two samples of Nannochloropsis sp. grown in normal feeding conditions or in nitrogen deprived medium are reported. Some considerations about the design of open ponds for mass cultivation of microalgae and the relationships existing between biomass production and energy consumption are also discussed.