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Comparative Analysis of the Fatty Acid Composition of Microalgae Obtained by Different Oil Extraction Methods and Direct Biomass Transesterification

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Abstract

One of the main challenges for the successful production and use of microalgae for biodiesel production is to obtain a satisfactory level of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). The aims of this study are to identify the best method of lipid extraction and provide high FAME levels and to evaluate their fatty acid profiles. Six lipid extraction methodologies in three microalgae species were tested in comparison with the direct transesterification (DT) of microalgal biomass method. The choice of extraction method affected both the oily extract yield and the FAME composition of the microalgae and consequently may affect the properties of biodiesel. The efficiency of different lipid extraction methods is affected by the solvent polarity, which extracts different target compounds from lipid matrix. Dichloromethane/methanol extraction and Folch extraction produced the largest oil extract yields, but extraction with hexane/ethanol resulted in the best ester profile and levels. Performing DT reduces the volume of extractor solvent, the time and cost of FA composition analysis, as well as, presents less steps for fatty acid quantification. DT provided biomass FAME levels of 50.2, 636.4, and 258.2 mg.g−1 in Nannochlorophisis oculata, Chaetoceros muelleri, and Chlorella sp., respectively. On the basis of an analysis of the fatty acids profiles of different species, C. muelleri is a promising microalga for biodiesel production. Depending on the extraction method, Chlorella sp. and N. oculata can be considered as an alternative in obtaining arachidonic (Aa) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids.

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Abbreviations

Aa:

Arachidonic acid (C20:4 ω6)

ANP:

Brazilian National Agency for Petroleum Natural Gas and Biofuels

CFPP:

Cold filter plugging point

CN:

Cetane number

DCM:

Dichloromethane

DT:

Direct transesterification

CO2 :

Carbon dioxide

EPA:

Eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5 ω3)

GC-HRMS:

Gas Chromatography -High resolution mass spectrometry

FA:

Fatty acids

FAME:

Fatty acid methyl esters

FID:

Flame ionization detector

PAR:

Photosynthetically active radiation

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acids

SFA:

Saturated fatty acids

SV:

Saponification value

TAG:

Triglycerides

USFA:

Unsaturated fatty acids

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their appreciation to the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation (MCTI) for financial support provided through FINEP (Agreement No. 01.10.0457.00) and CNPq (Case No. 574796/2008-8), to CAPES for a scholarship awarded to Aline Terra Soares, to CNPq for a research productivity scholarship awarded to Nelson Roberto Antoniosi Filho, (Case No. 309832/2010-1) and to FUNAPE for management of financial resources.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Methods of Extraction and Separation (LAMES), Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Goiás, Campus II, Samambaia, Cx, 131, 74001-970, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil

    Aline Terra Soares, Dayane Cristine da Costa, Bruna Ferreira Silva & Nelson Roberto Antoniosi Filho

  2. Laboratory of Cultivation of Algae (LCA), Department of Aquaculture, Agricultural Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Servidão dos Coroas, n. 503, 88061-600, Barra da Lagoa, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil

    Rafael Garcia Lopes & Roberto Bianchini Derner

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  1. Aline Terra Soares
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  2. Dayane Cristine da Costa
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  3. Bruna Ferreira Silva
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Correspondence to Nelson Roberto Antoniosi Filho.

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Soares, A.T., da Costa, D.C., Silva, B.F. et al. Comparative Analysis of the Fatty Acid Composition of Microalgae Obtained by Different Oil Extraction Methods and Direct Biomass Transesterification. Bioenerg. Res. 7, 1035–1044 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-014-9446-4

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