Microalgae are a rich source for a wide range of compounds, such as hydrogen, carbohydrates, proteins, carotenoids, and lipids. These algal compounds are used to produce several valuable products, varying from food additives to biofuels [1]. The renewable biofuels can decrease the release of harmful chemical substances for the environment in comparison with common diesel fuels. Among different types of biofuels, production of biodiesel has received much attention during recent years [2]. In order to maximize algal biomass and lipid yield for production of commercial biodiesel from algal oil, screening of microalgae have already been applied [3]. In this study, some factors required for algae growth were provided to achieve desired cell density of the microalgae in the wastewater during stage I. Thereafter, a number of algal strains were isolated and identified morphologically. The algal strains were then cultivated under autotrophic cultivation (stage II). The aim of this work was to investigate the growth curve, the biomass productivity, the lipid content, and the lipid productivity for wastewater samples, and each microalgal strain isolated from them. Finally, the results were compared with each other and suitable microalgal strains for biodiesel production were selected for further studies.

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