Flow Culture of Scenedesmus dimorphus In Modified Sago Effluent (MSE).

Scenedesmus dimorphus is a photosynthetic algae which has high lipid content and can be converted to biodiesel. The culture medium used in this study was modified sago effluent (MSE) amended with 8 g/L sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), MSE without NaHCO3 with Chu medium which is a standard medium for culture of Scenedesmus. The addition of culture enrichments in the form of sodium bicarbonate was tested to study the effects on growth of Scenedesmus in MSE. The growth of Scenedesmus in modified sago effluent (MSE) is measured through measurement of dry cell weight every 2 days. The cultivation was done for 20 days in 2 Perspex growth chamber to create flow culture agitated by using aquarium pump. The results showed that the highest growth of Scenedesmus in MSE supplied with NaHCO3 (265.2 mg/L) which was on day 12 was greater than Scenedesmus in MSE without NaHCO3 (219.6 mg/L) on day 14. For the control, the highest growth of Scenedesmus was 222.4 mg/L on day 16. The percentage of the total lipid yield for Scenedesmus in MSE supplied with NaHCO3 was 7.61%. Hence, sago effluent can be used beneficially as a culture medium without disposing into rivers thus minimizing environmental pollution