I have two reasons for wanting to raise algae, one is nutrition, and the second is oils/lipids.

Where can I find more information about various strains of algae and their characteristics?

I raise algae for the same reason servant74!

I've received an e-mail with a pdf from the company AlgaeLink with a list of the most common algae species used in bio-reactors.

I've written down this list into my blog, and even though it is in spanish, the list is quite intuitive to read:

http://miprimerbiodiesel.blogspot.com/2009/12/como-cultivar-algas-para-producir.html

Just tell me if you need any help with that!

Good luck!

Has anyone tried any "good" strains yet? I mean, some strains are better suited for the projects on this site than others.

I am interested in growing algea for oil with a system that is similar to the project no. 2.

Does anyone have any input regarding "good" fatty algea, or even can recommend one?

botryococcus braunii is a good species as it can create extracellular lipids which can be removed without harming the intracellular components.

I'm currently using C. vulgaris in a maze-type closed reactor. At my benchtop scale however I can only get reasonable yield when using heterogeneous methods of energy (basically feeding sugars with sunlight)

Most species of chlorella or neochloropsis would be good for the projects on this site.

OK! botryococcus braunii sounds really cool. I believe I have to rethink the strain choice regarding how big those cells become.. If the cells become fairly large it should be easier to separate the lipids from the cells by just using a filter. The water/lipids liquid that is left should not be too hard to separate. (just letting it rest should do).

What do you guys think about this idea? Is it possible at all?

I just learnt that the lipids coming from botryococcus braunii are not suitable for biodiesel production. So it will be some chlorella strain instead

B. braunii does not create triglycerides or the vegetable oils that are produced by many types of algae, this is true. However they do create very long chains of hydrocarbons called triterpenes. These can be cracked using techniques similar to petroleum in refineries to create octane, kerosene, and diesel. What is nice is you can harvest the lipids without destorying the machinery inside the cell therefore you can keep a culture productive for longer.

Yes, I agree that it sounds very promising out of a harvesting point of view. However, it seems a bit more complicated turning the oil into biodiesel comparing to "normal" transesterification.

I will give Nannochloropsis salina a go for biodiesel. Maybe in the future I will do some reading regarding some species suitable for ethanol.

That sounds like a good idea. I wish you the best of luck. Just to make it clear though, b. braunii can make diesel as well as kerosene and octane. It does not however do this through the process of transesterfication.

These are very different than using algal biomass in the creation of ethanol.

I wasn't sure if you were interested in biodiesel production of not.
A. plantesis, C. vulgaris, N. oculata, or N. salina would be good species to start with. The first one requires a high pH and the last two require saline water.

If I can help in any way let me know. Good luck.