Salt stress-driven bioorganic biorefinery of Monoraphidium contortum algae: Lipid transformation and starch valorization for integrated biodiesel and bioplastic production

Muntaha Mahmoud Al-Rashidy; Mira Ausama Al-Katib; Mohanad Yakdhan Saleh

doi:10.22034/ijab.v3i14.2909

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Muntaha Mahmoud Al-Rashidy Nineveh Education Directorate, Iraqi Ministry of Education, Nineveh, Iraq.
Mira Ausama Al-Katib Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Science, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq.
Mohanad Yakdhan Saleh
mohanadalallaf@uomosul.edu.iq
Department of Chemistry, College of Education for Pure Science, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq.

Vol. 3 No. 14 (2026): June

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June 12, 2026

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This study aimed to collect and identify Monoraphidium contortum from local water bodies in Mosul, Iraq, using morphological and molecular characteristics. Furthermore, after cultivation in multiple media (modified NPK and modified CH10) and exposure to saline stress, lipid transformation and starch valorization were estimated to support the integrated production of biodiesel and bioplastics. Based on the results, the best medium for growth was M4 (CaCO3 + (NPK20:20:20) + CH10). On the twelfth day, the light absorption reached 650 nm with an optical density of 1.742 in this medium. The extracted oil yield was 9.6%, and polyunsaturated fatty acids increased to 22.7%, which were used to produce biodiesel. The transesterification process successfully converted the crude oil into diesel in two stages: an acidic and a basic stage. GC-MS analyses revealed that the salt stress stimulated the algae to accumulate polyunsaturated fatty acids. FTIR showed the success of the reaction through the appearance of a peak. The carbonyl group of methyl esters at 1728 cm^-1 and the disappearance of the glycerol and water fractions indicate the product's purity. HPLC results revealed that glucose was the main starch component at 55.48%, with 32.18% fructose and 12.34% sucrose. Furthermore, bioplastics were manufactured from the extracted starch, with glycerin added as a plasticizer. The results showed the high biodegradability of the manufactured plastic in soil, reaching a decomposition rate of 68.2% within 120 days, ASTM D6400, making it a successful, environmentally friendly product that conforms to international standards.

Al-Rashidy, M. M., Al-Katib, M. A., & Saleh, M. Y. (2026). Salt stress-driven bioorganic biorefinery of Monoraphidium contortum algae: Lipid transformation and starch valorization for integrated biodiesel and bioplastic production. International Journal of Aquatic Biology, 3(14), 121–135. https://doi.org/10.22034/ijab.v3i14.2909

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