Evaluation of halophilic microalgae isolated from Rabigh Red Sea coastal area for biodiesel production: Screening and biochemical studies.

In the present study, different water samples from Red Sea coastal area at Rabigh city, Saudi Arabia were studied for their dominant algal species. Microalgal isolation was carried out based on dilution method and morphologically examined using F/2 as a growth medium Dry weight and main biochemical composition (protein, carbohydrates, lipids) of all species were performed at the end of the growth, and biodiesel characteristics were estimated. sp sp sp sp sp sp sp., and sp. were the most dominant species in the collected water samples and were used for further evaluation. sp. surpassed all other isolates in concern of biomass production with the maximum recorded dry weight of 0.89 g L, followed by sp. (0.69 g L). The highest crude protein content was observed in sp. (38.21%) and sp. (18.01%), while sp. showed 13.38%, with the lowest recorded lipid content in sp. (10.09%). Based on the growth, lipid content, and biodiesel characteristics, the present study suggested sp. and sp. as promising candidates for further large-scale biodiesel production.