The objective of this study was to determine the effects of silicon- depletion on growth rate, intracellular lipid accumulation, and lipid composition in Chaetoceros muelleri . Lipid yield in Chaetoceros increased with silicon-depletion, whereas growth rate decreased. Silicon-depletion resulted in an increase in short chain saturated fatty acids and a decrease in long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Microalgae occur in aquatic and terrestrial environments, and serve as important food sources for many other organisms. The rise of conventional fuel costs during the 1970's spurred an increased attention to use of microalgae as alternative fuel sources.
Diatoms are a group of algae known to store excess photosyntate as lipid.
Many studies have explored possible methods of lipid enhancement in various diatoms. The fatty acids present in a lipid dictate biochemical characteristics, and thus the commercial uses. The objective of this research is to determine if silicon depletion alters fatty acid content in the diatom Chaetoceros muelleri . C. muelleri was provided by the Loras College Culture collection and was originally isolated from Alamagordo Playa New Mexico. Eight 125 ml flasks with 48 ml of media were inoculated with 2 ml of inoculum.