Growth of Chlorella ellipsoidea was studied using different autotrophic media. BG11 was found to be the best medium for biomass production (3.2 g L− 1). Maximum lipid (37 %) was achieved in BG11 after reinoculation in WC media. Highest TFA yield was 2.2 gL− 1 and TFA content was 24.1 % (DW). 95 % TFA was C18 (~71.5 %) and C16 (~23.5 %).