How to Grow Algae for Lipid Content

Algae is a simple type of plant that grows in ponds and other outdoor water sources that don't have constant or heavy flow rates. Algae is an important part of ecosystems, serving as a source of energy for animals that eat it and synthesizing sunlight and carbon dioxide. One emerging use of algae is as a fuel source. Growing algae for its lipid, or fatty acid, content is much more efficient than growing other oil-producing plants such as soy beans and corn to make biodiesel fuel. You can grow algae on your own, but the algae you grow will only be suitable for testing lipid content and performing experiments. To fuel a vehicle, you'd need to grow algae on an industrial scale.

Fish tank
Water supply
pH test kit
Aquarium pH products
Large rocks
Algae cultures
Fluorescent lamp
Indoor thermometer

Instructions

- 1
  Fill a fish tank or other clear, watertight container about half full with water. Wait for a day while the gases in the water dissolve.
- 2
  Wet a pH test strip in the aquarium water and check the color of the strip against the chart that comes with the test kit.
- 3
  Add an aquarium pH product to raise or lower the pH of the water toward a goal of pH 8, or slightly basic. Allow the pH products to dissolve in the water overnight before testing the water again.
- 4
  Place the aquarium on a table or stand near a window that permits sunlight during much of the day.
- 5
  Scrub two or three large rocks clean and place them in the aquarium so that they are partially exposed above the water line.
- 6
  Sprinkle algae cultures on the surface of the water evenly. Select cultures that have high lipid contents, such as Prymnesium parvum or Scenedesmus dimorphus algae. Avoid using algae from a natural source, such as a nearby pond or lake because that algae often has a lower lipid content.
- 7
  Place a fluorescent lamp on the tale or stand next to the aquarium to provide light overnight.
- 8
  Set up an indoor thermometer near the aquarium where it will receive the same amount of sunlight as the aquarium water. Raise or lower the indoor temperature to keep the algae as close to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

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