Multistage wet lipid extraction from fresh water stressed Neochloris oleoabundans slurry – Experiments and modelling

Ying Du,Boelo Schuur,Sascha R.A Kersten,D.W.F (Wim) Brilman

doi:10.1016/j.algal.2018.01.001

Abstract

Algae are considered an important renewable feedstock for lipid extraction to produce biofuels. Algae strain Neochloris oleoabundans used in this research can yield a high lipid content under stressed conditions. N-ethyl butylamine (EBA) as a switchable solvent has previously shown outstanding performance on energy efficient lipid extraction from non-broken wet algae slurry. In this work, a model was developed that describes the equilibrium state of lipid extraction from fresh water (FW)-stressed Neochloris oleoabundans algae slurry using EBA as solvent. When assuming that the cell interior is almost completely filled with the solvent phase during extraction, the model estimated extraction yields showed good agreement with those obtained in experiments. The developed model can predict the amount of crude lipid being recovered from any stage of a multistage extraction process.

Highlights

The global demand for energy is rapidly increasing with increasing human population, urbanization and modernization [1]
We aim to develop a model that describes the equilibrium state of lipid extraction using ethyl butylamine (EBA) from wet microalgae slurry
The modelling approach to describe the multistage lipid extraction is based on some experimental observations that are discussed prior to setting up the model in order to make the approach more comprehensive

Summary

Introduction

The global demand for energy is rapidly increasing with increasing human population, urbanization and modernization [1]. Microalgae as an important feedstock for biofuels are receiving increasing attention [3,4,5,6,7]. They have rapid growth rate, and high productivity, less competition with arable land and freshwater as compared to other crops and a high CO2 fixation rate [8]. Neochloris oleoabundans was stressed to improve the lipid content under different growth conditions, such as other nitrogen sources [10], nitrogen starvation [9,11,12], mixotrophy (the use of phototrophy and heterotrophy in combination) [13], pH and salt concentration [14]. The research findings provide an interesting outlook on its application as alternative feedstock for biofuel production

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Conclusion