Chemical composition of the green alga Botryococcus braunii

The growth and chemical composition of the green alga Botryococcus braunii grown in a modified and improved basal medium under batch conditions have b een examined and compared with composition of the protein-rich filamentous cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis. The growth rate and biomass yield of th e alga was enhanced to two fold in the modified medium while the profiles o f amino acids and lipids (saturated and unsaturated fatty acids) remained a lmost unaffected. The results are discussed with respect to carbohydrate, p rotein, amino acids, lipid and fatty acid composition of Botryococcus braun ii in improved medium in relation to its economic importance.