Biodiesel from mixed culture algae via a wet lipid extraction procedure

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 118; pp. 643 - 647
• Main Authors: Sathish, Ashik, Sims, Ronald C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2012
• Subjects: Absorption; Biodiesel; Biofuels - analysis; Biomass; Bioproducts; Biotechnology - methods; Cell Culture Techniques - methods; Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll - isolation & purification; Chlorophylls; Costs; Esters - analysis; Extraction; Feedstock; Lipids; Lipids - chemistry; Lipids - isolation & purification; Microalgae; Microalgae - chemistry; Microalgae - metabolism; Microorganisms; Solvents - chemistry; Spectrum Analysis; Water - chemistry; Wet lipid extraction; Wet lipid extraction; Bioproducts; Chlorophyll; Microalgae; Biodiesel
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.05.118

[Display omitted] ► Procedure developed for extraction and isolation of lipids from wet algal biomass. ► Up to 59% of the transesterifiable algal lipids are isolated from wet algal biomass. ► Removal of chlorophyll by precipitation prior to lipid isolation. ► Procedure generates feedstock material for production of additional bioproducts. Microalgae are a source of renewable oil for liquid fuels. However, costs for dewatering/drying, extraction, and processing have limited commercial scale production of biodiesel from algal biomass. A wet lipid extraction procedure was developed that was capable of extracting 79% of transesterifiable lipids from wet algal biomass (84% moisture) via acid and base hydrolysis (90°C and ambient pressures), and 76% of those extracted lipids were isolated, by further processing, and converted to FAMEs. Furthermore, the procedure was capable of removing chlorophyll contamination of the algal lipid extract through precipitation. In addition, the procedure generated side streams that serve as feedstocks for microbial conversion to additional bioproducts. The capability of the procedure to extract lipids from wet algal biomass, to reduce/remove chlorophyll contamination, to potentially reduce organic solvent demand, and to generate feedstocks for high-value bioproducts presents opportunities to reduce costs of scaling up algal lipid extraction for biodiesel production.