Identification and evaluation of the biotechnological potential of Desmodesmus armatus (Chodat) E.H. Hegewald isolated from the ecuadorian Amazon

Authors

  • Juan F. González-Loyo Universidad Internacional SEK (UISEK), Faculty of Architecture and Engineering, Campus “Miguel de Cervantes”, Calle Albert Einstein y 5ta Transversal Carcelén, Quito 170102, Ecuador, juano_gl911@hotmail.com https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1971-2433
  • Paula E. Encalada-Rosales Universidad Internacional SEK (UISEK), Faculty of Architecture and Engineering, Campus “Miguel de Cervantes”, Calle Albert Einstein y 5ta Transversal Carcelén, Quito 170102, Ecuador, paula_10_estefania@hotmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8820-9946
  • Juan C. Navarro Universidad Internacional SEK (UISEK), Faculty of Health Sciences, Campus “Miguel de Cervantes”, Calle Albert Einstein y 5ta Transversal Carcelén, Quito 170102, Ecuador, juancarlos.navarro@uisek.edu.ec https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7692-4248
  • Elizabeth C. Ramírez-Iglesias Universidad Estatal Amazónica (UEA), Faculty of Life Sciences, Km. 2½, Puyo – Tena (Lateral pass), Puyo 160102, Ecuador, ec.ramirezi@uea.edu.ec https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9082-9394
  • Jennifer P. Moyón Universidad Estatal Amazónica (UEA), Faculty of Life Sciences, Km. 2½, Puyo – Tena (Lateral pass), Puyo 160102, Ecuador, jennifermoyon05@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9164-6696
  • Johanna L. Medrano-Barboza Universidad Internacional SEK (UISEK), Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Campus “Miguel de Cervantes”, Calle Albert Einstein y 5ta Transversal Carcelén, Quito 170102, Ecuador, johanna.medrano@uisek.edu.ec https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0905-1712
  • Jose Ramirez Universidad Internacional SEK (UISEK), Health Sciences Facult, Quito, Ecuador, , jose.ramirez@uisek.edu.ec https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0173-1895

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5216/rbn.v23iúnico.80927

Keywords:

Desmodesmus armatus, bioremediation, renewable fuels

Abstract

Currently, there is a strong trend toward developing biofuels from microalgae. This study identified and evaluated the biotechnological potential of Desmodesmus armatus (Chodat) E.H. Hegewald, isolated from the Ecuadorian Amazon, for bioremediation and biofuel production. Molecular and morphological identification of the L60cmC1B-17519 strain, obtained from the Limoncocha Lagoon in the Sucumbios province of Ecuador, was conducted using bibliographic comparisons, ITS2-PCR, and maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis. This approach indicates that the strain isolated belongs to the D. armatus species. A ten-day culture was conducted in 1L batch photobioreactors with BG-11 medium, yielding 2.36 g/L of biomass with a productivity of 0.24 g/L∙d. Nutrient removal, measured in terms of nitrates, phosphates, and chemical oxygen demand, was monitored daily, with removal efficiencies of 55.35%, 68.31%, and 81.13%, respectively. Lipid content was evaluated from wet and dry biomass using chloroform and ethyl acetate as organic solvents. The best results were obtained with the chloroform (1:2) mixture, yielding lipid percentages of 21.50% from dry biomass. Additionally, free fatty acids were analyzed, with the highest yield of 52.80%, using chloroform extraction. These findings suggest that this microalga holds potential for biotechnological applications and highlight the need for future research.

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2026-03-01

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GONZÁLEZ-LOYO, Juan F.; ENCALADA-ROSALES, Paula E.; NAVARRO, Juan C.; RAMÍREZ-IGLESIAS, Elizabeth C.; MOYÓN, Jennifer P.; MEDRANO-BARBOZA, Johanna L.; RAMIREZ, Jose. Identification and evaluation of the biotechnological potential of Desmodesmus armatus (Chodat) E.H. Hegewald isolated from the ecuadorian Amazon. Revista de Biologia Neotropical / Journal of Neotropical Biology, Goiânia, v. 23, n. único, p. 1–15, 2026. DOI: 10.5216/rbn.v23iúnico.80927. Disponível em: https://revistas.ufg.br/RBN/article/view/80927. Acesso em: 1 mar. 2026.

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Vol. 23 No. único (2026): Revista de Biologia Neotropical / Journal of Neotropical Biology

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