NaCl as an effective inducer for lipid accumulation in freshwater microalgae Desmodesmus abundans.

Highlights: [•] 0.25gL−1 urea is the optima for biomass accumulation in D. abundans. [•] NaCl was outstanding of different salts (NaCl, NaHCO3, NaAc and NaS2O3) on lipid induction. [•] Higher lipid productivity was obtained during the optimized cultivation process. [•] 1.79gL−1 of biomass concentration was the time point for NaCl addition. [•] Strategy of NaCl addition for cultivating D. abundans was cost-efficient and net energy-positive. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]