Sustainable microalgal biomass optimization utilizing chicken feather fiber as a nutrient source in various saline growth solutions for renewable energy

Algal biomass is a promising renewable resource which can provide energy for the maintenance and development of an economically stable society. As the global population increases and developing countries continue to expand their economies, the demand for energy will substantially increase in the coming years. Producing biofuels from microalgae is advantageous because it is cheap, clean, and may be cultured in highly saline water (brackish water) and waste water, removing the need for fresh water resources.;In this research, chicken feather fiber is examined as a nutrient supplement and pH control, providing carbon, nitrogen, phosphate, and essential amino acids to the microalgae strains Nannochloropsis oculata and Chlorella sorokiniana. The microalgae strains were grown in six solutions of varying salinity and monitored over the course of the experiment.;The results of the research indicated that chicken feather fiber serves as an economical and efficient nutrient source, maximizing the percentage of biomass increase in both strains of microalgae while concurrently controlling the pH level of the growth solution. A neural network model examined the relationship between algae growth and the saline environments with and without the feather fiber supplement. A solution of ½ BBM and ½ brackish water with 2 g. of feather fiber was found to be the most effective at increasing microalgal biomass output for Nannochloropsis oculata by approximately 0.66706 g. with 0.425g/.2L of salinity. A solution of F/2 growing medium with feather fiber additive was found to optimize microalgal biomass output in Chlorella sorokiniana by 0.50188 g. with a salinity of 6.175 g/.2L. N. oculata and brackish water with 2 g. of feather fiber also yielded a biomass output of 1533.35% and a pH of 7.76.