Potential of Phaeodactylum tricornutum for Biodiesel Production under Natural Conditions in Chile

Diatoms are very diverse and highly productive organisms, found in a wide variety ofenvironments. This study aims to analyze the growth and lipid composition ofPhaeodactylum tricornutum,cultured in an outdoor pilot-scale bubble column photobioreactor under natural conditions in Chile forbiodiesel production.Results showed thatP. tricornutumcultures reached their highest biomassconcentration (0.96±0.04 kg m−3) after 14 days of culturing, at the stationary phase, with avolumetric productivity of 0.13 kg m−3d−1. Biomass samples showed a total lipid content of9.08±0.38 wt %. The fatty acid methyl ester analysis revealed a composition of 24.39% C16-C18 fattyacids, 42.34% saturated fatty acids, 21.91% monounsaturated fatty acids and 31.41% polyunsaturatedfatty acids. These findings suggest thatP. tricornutumoil can be used as an alternative raw materialfor the production of biodiesel capable of meeting international quality standards.