Laser Radiation Induces Growth and Lipid Accumulation in the Seawater Microalga Chlorella pacifica

The impacts of laser radiation (Nd: YAG laser, 1064 nm at 800 mW, He–Ne laser 808 nm at 6 W, semiconductor laser 632.8 nm at 40 mW) on growth and lipid accumulation of Chlorella pacifica were investigated in this study. The results showed growth rates increased 1.23, 1.41, and 1.40-fold over controls by 4 min Nd: YAG, 4 min He–Ne, and 8 min semiconductor laser treatments, respectively, whereas the corresponding nitrate reductase observed increased 1.25, 1.63, and 2.08-fold over controls. Moreover, total chlorophyll concentration was increased to 1.09, 1.29, and 1.33-fold over controls, respectively. After 20 days cultivation, the highest lipid content was 35.99%, 18.46%, and 31.00% after 2 min Nd: YAG, 4 min He–Ne, and 4 min semiconductor laser treatments, corresponding to 2.86, 1.50, and 2.46-fold increase over controls, respectively. Furthermore, the lipid productivity of the above 3 treatments were 15.25 ± 2.56, 16.25 ± 2.45, and 14.75 ± 2.11 mg L −1 d −1 . However, the highest lipid productivity was 22.00 ± 3.28, 16.25 ± 2.45, and 19.25 ± 1.78 mg L −1 d −1 , in response to treatment for 2 min Nd: YAG, 1 min He–Ne, and 4 min semiconductor laser treatments, with 2.67, 1.97, and 2.33-fold increase over controls, respectively. These results indicated that lipid accumulation efficiency of C. pacifica could be significantly improved by laser irradiation using Nd: YAG, He–Ne, and semiconductor laser treatments.