INVESTIGATION OF HETEROTROPHIC CULTIVATION POTENTIAL OF CHLORELLA VULGARIS AND TETRASELMIS CHUII IN CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT WASTEWATER GROWTH MEDIA FROM DAIRY, POULTRY AND AQUACULTURE INDUSTRIES

Microalgae are primarily cultured in photoautotrophic conditions; however, one tremendously advantageous characteristic of microalgae is their unique ability to grow in alternative metabolic conditions, utilizing organic carbon (heterotrophy) in the absence of light. This study investigates the potential of cultivating two known facultative heterotrophs, Chlorella vulgaris and Tetraselmis chuii, in wastewaters of significant agricultural industries in Nova Scotia. The wastewaters employed were dairy waste slurry, poultry manure extract and concentrated fish manure. No microalgae growth was observed in wastewater treatments, which is due to insufficient inorganic carbon. C. vulgaris reached a maximum biomass of 441.9 mg L^-1 with a lipid content of 14.8%.