Abstract
One of the crucial steps in generating biofuel from algae is the separation and recovery of lipids from algal biomass. These lipids are eventually converted into liquid biofuel after processing and refining. This chapter presents an overview of extraction techniques and some of the challenges in applying these techniques to industrial-scale algal biofuel production. Lipids are well-encased inside algal cell walls. The aqueous environment of the cells makes it even more difficult to extract the lipids. Hexane extraction is presently the most economical method. Cell-disrupting methods have been attempted as complementary techniques to hexane extraction. Other methods such as super-critical fluid extraction and microwave extraction that may prove better in future are still in developmental stages. The need to dry the algal biomass is a key challenge in hexane extraction. The development of on-site smaller-capacity technologies can be another vital step to enhance industrial-scale biofuel production.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Abbreviations
- DHA:
-
Docosahexaenoic acid
- EPA:
-
Eicosapentaenoic acid
References
Akintayo ET (2004) Characteristics and composition of Parkia biglobbossa and Jatropha curcas oils and cakes. Bioresour Technol 92:307–310
Balasubramanian S, Allen JD, Kanitkar A, Boldor D (2011) Oil extraction from Scenedesmus obliquus using a continuous microwave system—design, optimization, and quality characterization. Bioresour Technol 102:3396–3403
Belarbi EH, Molina E, Chisti Y (2000) A process for high yield and scaleable recovery of high purity eicosapentaenoic acid esters from microalgae and fish oil. Enzyme Microb Technol 26:516–529
Bell S (2009) Supercritical CO2: a green solvent. Process economics program report No. 269, SRI Consulting, August 2009
Bligh EG, Dyer WJ (1959) A rapid method of total lipid extraction and purification. Can J Biochem Physiol 37:911–917
Cheng CH, Du TB, Pi HC, Jang SM, Lin YH, Lee HT (2011) Comparative study of lipid extraction from microalgae by organic solvent and supercritical CO2. Bioresour Technol 102:10151–10153
Chisti Y (2007) Biodiesel from microalgae. Biotechnol Adv 25:294–306
Cooney M, Young G, Nagle N (2009) Extraction of bio-oils from microalgae. Sep & Purific Rev 38:291–325
Cravotto G, Cintas P (2007) Extraction of flavourings from natural sources. In: Taylor A, Hort J (Eds). Modifying flavour in food. Woodhead Publishing Ltd., Cambridge, pp. 41–63
Cravotto G, Binello A, Merizzi G, Avogadro M (2004) Improving solvent-free extraction of policosanol from rice bran by high-intensity ultrasound treatment. Eur J Lipid Sci Technol 106:147–151
Cravotto G, Boffa L, Mantegna S, Perego P, Avogadro M, Cintas P (2008) Improved extraction of vegetable oils under high- intensity ultrasound and/or microwaves. Ultrason Sonochem 15:898–902
Doucha J, Livansky K (2008) Influence of processing parameters on disintegration of chlorella cells in various types of homogenizers. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 81:431–440
Dunford NT, Temelli F (1997) Extraction conditions and moisture content of canola flakes as related to lipid composition of supercritical CO2 extracts. J Food Sci 62:155–159
Fahy E, Subramaniam S, Murphy RC, Nishijima M, Raetz CRH, Shimizu T, Spener F, van Meer G, Wakelam MJO, Dennis EA (2009) Update of the LIPID MAPS comprehensive classification system for lipids. J Lipid Res 50:9–14
Folch J, Lees M, Sloane, Stanley GH (1957) A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipids from animal tissues. J Biol Chem 226:497–509
Frank ED, Han J, Palou-Rivera I, Elgowainy A, Wang MQ (2011) Life-cycle analysis of algal lipid fuels with the GREET model. Argonne National Laboratory, US Department of Energy, ANL/ESD/11–5, US
Gifford M, Biancani E, Kearsley W, Maluchnik W, Farrell S, Savelski MJ, Hesketh RP (2001) Economic feasibility study on the supercritical fluid extraction of edible oils. AP-105, Client Applications, Technical Resources, Supercritical Fluid Technologies, Inc., USA
Gimenez Gimenez A, Ibanez MJ, Robles A, Molina E, Garcia S, Esteban L (1998) Downstream processing and purification of eicosapentaenoic (20:5n-3) and arachidonic acids (20:4n-6) from the microalga Porphyridium cruentum. Bioseparation 7:89–99
Guderjan M, Elez-Martinez P, Knorr D (2007) Application of pulsed electric fields at oil yield and content of functional food ingredients at the production of rapeseed oil. Innovations Food Sci Emerg 8:55–62
Halim R, Gladman B, Danquah MK, Webley PA (2010) Oil extraction from microalgae for biodiesel production. Bioresource Technol 102:178–185
Halim R, Danquah MK, Webley PA (2012) Extraction of oil from microalgae for biodiesel production: a review. Biotechnol Adv 30:709–732
Harun R, Singh M, Forde GM, Danquah MK (2010) Bioprocess engineering of microalgae to produce a variety of consumer products. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 14:1037–1047
Hebner RE, Davey K, Werst MD, Connelly R (2011) Electromechanical lysing of algal cells. United States Patent Application number: 13/186,282, Publication number: US 2012/0021481 A1, Filing date: Jul 19, 2011
Hejazi MA, Wijffels RH (2004) Milking of microalgae. Trends Biotechnol 22:189–194
Hejazi MA, Holwerda E, Wijffels RH (2004) Milking microalga Dunaliella salina for β-carotene production in two-phase bioreactors. Biotechnol Bioeng 85:475–481
Horst I, Parker BM, Dennis JS, Howe CJ, Scott SA, Smith AG (2012) Treatment of phaeodactylum tricornutum cells with papain facilitates lipid extraction. J Biotechnol 162:40–49
Institute for Applied Environmental Economics, Netherlands (1995) Aqueous enzymatic extraction of oil from rapeseeds. http://infohouse.p2ric.org/ref/10/09365.htm Sep 9, 2012
Kates M (1986) Lipid extraction procedures. In: Kates M (ed.) Techniques of lipidology: isolation, analysis, and identification of lipids. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 100–111
Lewis T, Nichols PD, McMeekin TA (2000) Evaluation of extraction methods for recovery of fatty acids from lipid producing microheterotrophs. J Microbiol Method 43:107–116
Lim GB, Lee SY, Lee EK, Haam SJ, Kim WS (2002) Separation of astaxanthin from red yeast Phaffia rhodozyma by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction. Biochem Eng J 11:181–187
Lucchesi ME, Chemat F, Smadja J (2004) An original solvent free microwave extraction of essential oils from spices. J Chromatogr A1043:323–327
Lundquist TJ, Woertz IC, Quinn NWT, Benemann JR (2010) A realistic technology and engineering assessment of algae biofuel production. Energy Biosciences Institute, University of California, California (www.ascension-publishing.com/BIZ/Algae-EBI.pdf)
Martek Biosciences Corporation correspondence to Food and Drug Administration (2003) Re: GRAS exemption claim for dha algal oil derived from Schizochytrium sp. as a source of dha for use in foods. Sam Zeller (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/fcn/gras_notices/706545a.pdf) Sep 9 2012
Medina AR, Grima EM, Gimenez AG, Ibanez MJ (1998) Downstream processing of algal polyunsaturated fatty acids. Biotechnol Adv 16:517–580
Mendes RL, Reis AD, Palavra AF (2006) Supercritical CO2 extraction of g-linolenic acid and other lipids from Arthrospira (Spirulina) maxima: Comparison with organic solvent extraction. Food Chem 99:57–63
Mendiola JA, Jaime L, Santoyo S, Reglero G, Cifuentes A, Ibañez E, Señoráns FJ (2007a) Screening of functional compounds in supercritical fluid extracts from Spirulina platensis. Food Chem 102:1357–1367
Mendiola, JA, Herrero M, Cifuentes A, Ibañez E (2007b) Use of compressed fluids for sample preparation: food applications. J Chromatography A 1152:234–246
Mercer P, Armenta RE (2011) Developments in oil extraction from microalgae. Europ J Lipid Sci Technol 113:539–547
Metzger P, Largeau C (2005) Botryococcus braunii: a rich source for hydrocarbons and related ether lipids. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 66:486–496
Mojaat M, Foucault A, Pruvost J, Legrand J (2008) Optimal selection of organic solvents for biocompatible extraction of β-carotene from Dunaliella salina. J Biotechnol 133:433–441
Molina Grima E, Belarbi E-H, Acien Fernandez FG, Medina A, Chisti Y (2003) Recovery of microalgal biomass and metabolites: process options and economics. Biotechnol Adv 20:491–515
Nagle N, Lemke P (1989) Microalgal fuel production processes: Analysis of lipid extraction and conversion methods. In: Bollmeier WS, Sprague S (eds). Aquatic species program annual report. Solar Energy Research Institute, Colorado, SERI/SP-231–3579, pp. 157–164
Nurdin R (2007) Microwave extraction of essential oils from ‘Penaga Lilin’ (Mesua Ferrea L.) Leaves.” Masters thesis. Universiti Putra Malaysia
Paré JRJ, Matni G, Bélanger JMR, Li K, Rule C, Thibert B (1997) Use of the microwave-assisted process in extraction of fat from meat, dairy, and egg products under atmospheric pressure conditions. J AOAC Int 80:928–933
Pempiyawat S, Vatanatham T, Limtrakul S (2011) Economic and energy analysis of a supercritical carbon dioxide extraction process. Proc 49th Kasetsart University National Conf, Bangkok
Pourmortazavi SM, Hajimirsadeghi SS (2007) Supercritical fluid extraction in plant essential and volatile oil analysis—review. J Chromatography A 1163:2–24
Pramanik K (2003) Properties and use of Jatropha curcas oil and diesel fuel blends in compression ignition engine. Renew Energy 28:239–248
Robles Medina A, Gimenez Gimenez A, Garcıa Camacho F, Sanchez Perez JA, Molina Grima E, Contreras Gómez A (1995) Concentration and purification of stearidonic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids from cod liver oil and the marine microalga Isochrysis galbana. J AOCS 72:575–583
Ruecker CM, Adu-peasah SP, Engelhardt BS, Veeder III GT (2010) Solventless extraction process. United States Patent 7,781,193 B2 (2010)
Sahena F, Zaidul ISM, Jinap S, Karim AA, Abbas KA, Norulaini NAN, Omar AKM (2009) Application of supercritical CO2 in lipid extraction—a review. J Food Eng 95:240–253
Shah S, Sharma A, Gupta MN (2004) Extraction of oil from Jatropha curcas L. seed kernels by enzyme assisted three phase partitioning. Ind Crop Prod 20:275–279
Sheehan J (1998) A look back at the U.S. department of energy’s aquatic species program: biodiesel from algae. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA
Shen Y, Pei Z, Yuan W, Mao E (2009) Effect of nitrogen and extraction method on algae lipid yield. Int J Agric Biol Eng 2:51–57
Soto C, Chamy R, Zuniga ME (2007) Enzymatic hydrolysis and pressing conditions effect on borage oil extraction by cold pressing. Food Chem 102:834–840
Stephenson AL, Kazamia E, Dennis JS, Howe CJ, Scott SA, Smith AG (2010) Life-cycle assessment of potential algal biodiesel production in the United Kingdom: a comparison of raceways and air-lift tubular bioreactors. Energy and Fuels 24:4062–4077
Stewart G (2003) Dry cleaning with liquid carbon dioxide. In: DeSimone JM, Tumas W (eds). Green chemistry using liquid and supercritical carbon dioxide. Oxford University Press, United States, pp. 215–217
Tanaka Y, Sakaki I, Ohkubo T (2004) Extractions of phospholipids from Salmon Roe with supercritical carbon dioxide and an entrainer. J Oleo Sci 53:417–424
Joshi U, Ware L, Upadhye M (2010) Microwave assisted extraction of crude drugs. Int J Pharma Bio Sci 1:330–332
Vandana V, Karuna MSL, VijayaLakshmi P, Prasad RBN (2001) A simple method to enrich phospholipid content in commercial soybean lecithin. J AOCS 778:555–556.
Wang L, Weller CL (2006) Recent advances in extraction of nutraceuticals from plants. Trends Food Sci Technol 17:300–312
Wolf FR, Nonomura AM, Bassham JA (1985) Growth and branched hydrocarbon production in a strain of Botryococcus braunii (chlorophyta). J Phycology 21:388–396
Zheng J, Hu A-J (2007) Various factors in ultrasonic extraction of DHA and EPA from algae and effect of ultrasound enhancement. Technical Acoustics 26:75–79
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Chinmaya Kulkarni for his assistance in literature review.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kannan, D., Pattarkine, V. (2014). Recovery of Lipids from Algae. In: Bajpai, R., Prokop, A., Zappi, M. (eds) Algal Biorefineries. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7494-0_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7494-0_12
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-7493-3
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-7494-0
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)