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Algal Response to Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: Analysis of Growth, Protein Content, and Fatty Acid Composition

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Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the impacts of ZnO-, CuO-, and Fe2O3-nanoparticles (NPs) on the growth, protein content, and fatty acid profile of the green microalga Nannochloropsis oculata. The growth of alga was inhibited by the increasing concentration of NPs in the order of CuO-NPs > ZnO-NPs > Fe2O3-NPs. Protein content went up in response to ZnO- and Fe2O3-NPs and decreased after exposure to CuO-NPs. The analysis of fatty acid profile revealed the negative effect of CuO- and Fe2O3-NPs on the content of saturated fatty acids (SFAs). By contrast, the content of SFAs was enhanced in the algal cells treated with ZnO-NPs. The level of unsaturated fatty acids (USFAs) was increased upon reflection to CuO-NPs, but it was reduced after treatment with ZnO- and Fe2O3-NPs. The analysis of biodiesel indicators showed that the cloud point (CP) can be increased considerably in the algal cells exposed to ZnO- and CuO-NPs. Intriguingly, the cold filter plugging point (CFPP) of biodiesel was remarkably elevated in the treated cells with Fe2O3-NPs. Taken all together, despite the toxicity caused by high concentrations of metal oxide NPs, NPs could raise the amount of CP and CFPP and improve the oxidative stability in N. oculata biodiesel.

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Acknowledgments

Our appreciation goes to Dr. M. Rahimzadeh because of her technical advices. The authors would thank the University of Hormozgan (grant No. 96/200/163) and the University of Tabriz for financial supports.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran

    Nasrin Fazelian & Morteza Yousefzadi

  2. Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

    Ali Movafeghi

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  1. Nasrin Fazelian
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Fazelian, N., Yousefzadi, M. & Movafeghi, A. Algal Response to Metal Oxide Nanoparticles: Analysis of Growth, Protein Content, and Fatty Acid Composition. Bioenerg. Res. 13, 944–954 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-020-10099-7

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