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Influence of extraction solvent system on the extractability of lipid components from the biomass of Nannochloropsis gaditana

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Abstract

Microalgae oils are considered to be promising alternative sources of omega-3 LC-PUFA. The aim of this work was therefore to evaluate different solvent (mixtures), currently accepted for use in the food industry, for the extraction of lipids from Nannochloropsis gaditana, an omega-3 LC-PUFA-rich microalga. Importantly, not only the total lipid yield but also the lipid class, eicosapentaenoic acid, carotenoid, and sterol yield were investigated. It was shown that the highest yield for each of the components was obtained with dichloromethane/ethanol (1:1). All extracts except the one obtained with dichloromethane/ethanol (1:1) were enriched in neutral lipids and depleted in polar lipids, when compared to the total lipid extract (chloroform/methanol 1:1). Hexane/isopropanol (3:2) seems to be the second best option: it has the advantage of performing better at criteria such as toxicity, but has the disadvantage that almost half of the interesting oil cannot be recovered.

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Acknowledgments

The research presented in this paper was financially supported by KU Leuven Kulak and Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Monterrey. A special acknowledgement to LGem for the samples of N. gaditana.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Unit Food and Lipids, Department of Molecular and Microbial Systems Kulak, KU Leuven Kulak, Etienne Sabbelaan 53, 8500, Kortrijk, Belgium

    Eline Ryckebosch, Romina Termote-Verhalle, Charlotte Bruneel & Imogen Foubert

  2. KU Leuven Kulak, Laboratory of Aquatic Biology, Biology Department Kulak, Etienne Sabbelaan 53, 8500, Kortrijk, Belgium

    Koenraad Muylaert

  3. Water Center for Latin America and Caribbean, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur, 64849, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico

    Sara Paulina Cuéllar Bermúdez & Roberto Parra-Saldivar

  4. Leuven Food Science and Nutrition Research Centre (LFoRCe), KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001, Heverlee, Belgium

    Eline Ryckebosch, Romina Termote-Verhalle, Charlotte Bruneel & Imogen Foubert

Authors
  1. Eline Ryckebosch
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  2. Sara Paulina Cuéllar Bermúdez
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  3. Romina Termote-Verhalle
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  4. Charlotte Bruneel
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  5. Koenraad Muylaert
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  6. Roberto Parra-Saldivar
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  7. Imogen Foubert
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Correspondence to Imogen Foubert.

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Ryckebosch, E., Bermúdez, S.P.C., Termote-Verhalle, R. et al. Influence of extraction solvent system on the extractability of lipid components from the biomass of Nannochloropsis gaditana . J Appl Phycol 26, 1501–1510 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-013-0189-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-013-0189-y

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