Isolation of the Hydrocarbon Producing Algae Botrycoccus braunii Using Serial Dilution Techniques

Abstract

The study was carried out to isolate the microalgae species Botrycoccus braunii from a rich algal water sample using the serial dilution technique with modified Chu-13 culture media. Water sample was collected and was examined using the microscope. Botrycoccus braunii was found to be present. Modified CHU-13 culture media was prepared and autoclaved. Under aseptic condition, the media was poured into culture bottles numbered 10^-1 to 10^-10. using micropipette 10ml was collected from the rich water sample and poured into the culture bottle numbered 10^-1 _, again using the micropipette,  10ml was collected from the culture bottle numbered 10^-1 and was poured into the test tube numbered 10^-2 , again using micropipette, again 10mls was  collected using the micropipette from  the test tube numbered 10^-2 and poured into the test tube numbered 10^-3. The process was repeated for 10^-4, 10^-5, 10^-6, 10^-7, 10^-8, 10^-9 and 10^-10_. The culture tubes were maintained at room temperature (25-27⁰c) by sunlight with a light dark photoperiod of 15h: 9h. Aeration into the tubes was controlled by covering the culture tubes with cotton wool. The culture was examined after second and forth weeks growth period by preparing slides and viewing under the microscope. Pure Botrycoccus braunii species was found to be present in the test tubes numbered ^10-8 and 10^-9 at the forth week examination.