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Potential indicators for fast detection of cell disruption for algae biorefinery

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Abstract

Algae biorefinery requires the use of specific parameters that allow the control and monitoring of unit operations. A current challenge in microalgal biorefineries is the real-time monitoring of cell disruption processes. The cell disruption is essential for the development of efficient processes of biomass biorefining. Herein, different parameters were evaluated as potential indicators of cell disruption based on a wet route of biomass biorefining, and the parameters were present either in the aqueous phase and the recovered biomass. It was possible to plot precise models that correlate the levels of some parameters with the degree of cell disruption. Parameters present in the aqueous phase (proteins and ultraviolet absorbance) and the recovered biomass (lipids, chlorophylls a and b, and carotenoids) showed great potential for use in algae biorefineries. Ultraviolet absorbance and pigments were the most practical indicators of cell disruption since no colorimetric reaction is required to measure them.

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Data availability

Data of proteins and UV absorbance are presented as a function of the degree of disrupted cells in Supplementary material 1.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to Petróleo Brasileiro S/A (Petrobras) for research funding (grant 4600545175), Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, grant 307147/2015-0), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG, grant APQ-01357-14) and partial funding by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brazil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001. We also acknowledge the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). JS was supported by a fellowship from CNPq – Brazil (process: 155994/2018-2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, 36570-900, Brazil

    Bruno Bezerra Vieira & Rita de Cássia Superbi Souza

  2. Department of Agricultural Engineering, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, 36570-900, Brazil

    Jimmy Soares, Matheus Lopes Amorim & Marcio Arêdes Martins

  3. Department of Food Technology, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, 36570- 900, Brazil

    Eduardo Basílio de Oliveira & Jane Sélia dos Reis Coimbra

  4. Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2P5, Canada

    Marleny Doris Aranda Saldaña

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  1. Bruno Bezerra Vieira
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Correspondence to Marcio Arêdes Martins.

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Vieira, B.B., Soares, J., Amorim, M.L. et al. Potential indicators for fast detection of cell disruption for algae biorefinery. Braz. J. Chem. Eng. 41, 49–58 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43153-023-00339-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43153-023-00339-6

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