Most algae grow at around 20 degrees centigrade. The optimal temperature for phytoplankton cultures is generally between 20 and 30º C. Depends if its diatom or cyanobacteria algae (both generally called "Microalgae"). Algae does grow in the wild in water holes found in desert environment temperature extreams, thus algae growth in such extream temperatures is indicated as possible. Spirulina and Chlorella both can be adapted to grow in temperatures up to 150 F and as low as 3 F, with higher temps accelerating growth and lower temps slowing growth. The method of adapting algae for higher temps depends on the strain used, there are many strains that can be adapted. The crude method of adaptation is; Basically you begin to grow the strain and with each sucessive culture of that original strain you simply raise the growing temp gradually until the strain adapts and in the end you have a strain that grows at a higher temperature. Algae can also be genetically/chemically altered to grow at higher or lower temp ranges. Generally, a PBR process in high temperature environments can also infuse cooled water flow to keep the algae temperature down so growth takes place if an temperature adapted strain is not used. The higher the temp the faster the growth, so there is great interest in having algae grow at high temps. DARPA experimented with sucessful algae growth for adapted/modified strains for oil production at temps up to 200 F.
I asked one of the four chemists who works for me, who worked for Exxon (until last year) in experimenting with algae for producing algae strains that will grow at these extreams.
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