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Algal Cell Disruption and Lipid Extraction: A Review on Current Technologies and Limitations

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Algal Biorefineries

Abstract

Although numerous laboratory-based analytical techniques were developed and tested over the last five or six decades, industrial-scale algal oil extraction can be considered to be at its infancy.

Cost-effective, industrial-scale algal lipid extraction has been considered only after the advent of the algal biofuel industry. Presently, there is clearly a dearth of literature or reported results from commercial algal extraction technologies. When compared to land-based oil-seed crops, several fundamental differences exist for algal lipid extraction. Starting with the need for cost-effective harvesting and dewatering of dilute algal cultures (with 0.015–0.03 % solids) to differences in cell wall chemistry, and from the unsuitability of standard oil-seed pressing techniques to the need for cell disruption before drying, create unique challenges for microalgal lipid extraction. The present chapter discusses the limitations, challenges, and findings from numerous laboratory-based cell disruption and lipid extraction experiments and analytical techniques developed specifically to characterize or quantify algal lipids for nutraceutical, aquacultural, fine-chemical, or other value-added applications. Some potential industrial-scale, lipid extraction technologies are also discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Louisiana State University & LSU AgCenter, 161 EB Doran Bldg, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA

    Chandra S. Theegala

Authors
  1. Chandra S. Theegala
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chandra S. Theegala .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA

    Aleš Prokop

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA

    Rakesh K. Bajpai

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA

    Mark E. Zappi

List of Abbreviations

List of Abbreviations

BD20:

Solvent mixture with 20 % ethanol and 80 % biodiesel

BD40:

Solvent mixture with 40 % ethanol and 60 % biodiesel

CFLES:

Continuous flow lipid extraction system

DAG:

Diacylglycerols

FAME:

Fatty acid methyl esters

FFA:

Free fatty acids

GL:

Glycolipids

HTL:

Hydrothermal Liquefaction

MAG:

Monoacylglycerols

NL:

Neutral lipids

PL:

Phospholipids

PLE:

Pressurized lipid extraction

TAG:

Triacylglycerols

SEM:

Scanning electron microscope

SFE:

Supercritical fluid extraction

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Theegala, C.S. (2015). Algal Cell Disruption and Lipid Extraction: A Review on Current Technologies and Limitations. In: Prokop, A., Bajpai, R., Zappi, M. (eds) Algal Biorefineries. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20200-6_13

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