This study aimed to optimize significant medium nutrient parameters for maximization of algal lipid and biomass production by using multi objective optimization strategy. Nutrients (nitrate, phosphate and carbohydrate) were investigated to improve the lipid accumulation, biomass production and carbohydrate consumption individually and cumulative manner using a central composite design for the Chlorella pyrenoidosa NCIM 2738 cultivation. Maximum lipid, algal biomass and carbohydrate utilization for individual response optimization were found 34.8% (w/w), 1464.3 mg L-1 and 93.4%, respectively at different optimum level of selected parameters. Whereas, maximum lipid accumulation, biomass production and glucose consumption values in multi-response optimization were observed 28.9%, 1271.2 mg L-1 and 89.2%, respectively at optimum level of 16.8 mM NaNO3, 300.9 mu M K2HPO4 and 2.6% (w/v) glucose. The overall enhancements in lipid productivities by single and multi-response optimization in comparison with control medium conditions were found 2.35 and 2.90-fold with productivity level of 24.8 and 30.6 mg L-1 day(-1), respectively. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.