Growth of microalgae in high CO2 gas and effects of SOX and NOX.

Growth and lipid production of microalgae were investigated, with attention to the feasibility of making use of flue gas CO2 as a carbon source. The effect of a high CO2 level in artificial seawater differed from strain to strain. Three algal strains from the Solar Energy Research Institute (Golden, CO) collection were selected as good fixers of CO2 when the level of CO2 in the sparging gas was high. These algae also accumulated large amounts of crude lipids. SOx and NOx inhibited algal growth, but a green alga, Nannochloris sp. NANNO2 grew after a lag period, even when it received NO gas at the concentration of 300 ppm.