SUMMARY
http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/2175-7925.2014v27n2p1The production and storage of lipids by microalgae in response to variations in environmental factors are specific for each microalgal species. The present study aimed to evaluate the growth and concentration of total lipids of the microalga C. muelleri Lemmermann cultivated at three different salinities (15, 25 and 35). The experiment was conducted in triplicate, using 9-L containers (7-L working volume), with the culture being stationary or batch type. The temperature and light intensity of the cultivation room was kept at 28±1ºC and 20 µ.mol.m-2.s-1, respectively. The results showed that the lipid yield (10.41±1.89, 10.87±2.10 and 12.33±1.81% at salinities of 15, 25 and 35, respectively) was not influenced by the salt concentration (p>0.05), but the maximum cell concentration was significantly higher (p<0.05) at salinities of 15 and 25, which was 16.3±1.50 and 17.6±2.90 x 105 cells.mL-1, respectively.