Selection or isolation of potent lipid- and fatty acid producing microalgae strains and stimulation of lipid production by changing environmental conditions of the mass c
Thesis supervisor: Vince Ördög
co-supervisor: Ervin Balázs
Location of studies (in Hungarian): Széchenyi István University Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences Deparment of Plant Sciences Abbreviation of location of studies: MÉK
Description of the research topic:
Selection and mass cultivation of high lipid-producing microalgae strains started in Germany during World War II for military purposes. Recently, the mass production of high lipid-producing microalgae contribute to the decrease of carbon-dioxide emission and may serve as a renewable energy source. The lipid content of some microalgae strains is about 25-30%, but in others may reach 60-70%. Microalgae are able to produce 20-50-times more biofuel in a hectare than rape-seed. Microalgae produce long-chain (longer than 20 carbon) fatty acids with more than 3 double-bonds. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), like eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are important health-protecting components of animal feeds and human foods. The only PUFA-source of the mankind are microalgae and their feeding organisms. The main purpose of the PhD work plan is to find high lipid-containing and-producing microalgae as a renewable energy source and/or PUFA-producing strains for animal and human health protection.