Abstract
Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) is currently discussed as promising technology for mild and scalable cell disintegration of microalgae. In this study Chlorella vulgaris and Neochloris oleoabundans have been subjected to batch and continuous PEF treatments under a wide range of operating conditions (1–40 pulses, 0.05–5ms pulses, 7.5–30kV cm−1, 0.05–150 kWhkgDW−1). In many cases after treatment, both algal species show release of ions, which indicates that PEF treatment resulted in permeabilization of the algal cell. However, the electroporation effect was not sufficient to substantially release intracellular proteins. Even at severe energy input (10 to 100 times higher than bead milling) only up to 13% of proteins released from the cells in comparison to 45–50% after bead milling.
Highlights
Microalgae are a promising feedstock for the production of bulk commodities because of their interesting composition [1,2,3]
Samples were centrifuged at 4000 ×g for 15 min and the pellet was washed with Milli-Q water (N. oleoabundans) or with a 0.04% NaCl solution (C. vulgaris) to adjust the conductivity of the samples to an electrical conductivity of maximum 1.5 mS cm−1 prior to Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) treatment
First the results obtained using the batch mode PEF are presented followed by the results of the continuous flow PEF
Summary
Microalgae are a promising feedstock for the production of bulk commodities because of their interesting composition [1,2,3]. From this overview, it can be deduced that various experimental approaches, and various results have been obtained. Even though PEF is regarded as a promising technology for releasing hydrophilic proteins, an elaborate study that evaluates PEF over a similar range of processing conditions in direct comparison to benchmark disintegration technologies is not presented yet. A quantitative insight on the current state-of-development of PEF compared to a benchmark technology for both freshwater and marine cultivated microalgae is obtained
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