Abstract
Microalgae lipids could be a good alternative feedstock for liquid fuel, but complex processing steps with significant energy demands present roadblocks. Combining biomass harvesting and lipid recovery into one simple step can lower complexity and energy costs. This study evaluated the use of C12–C16 cationic surfactants in this synergistic manner. First, we determined that a dose as low as 0.45 mM of C16-alkyl-chain cationic surfactant (hexadecyltrimethylammonium, CTAB) led to >85% biomass-harvesting rate for Chlorella biomass, and good harvest was correlated to a slightly positive zeta potential. Second, the cationic surfactants disrupted cell structures (detected by transmission electron microscopy) and led to lipid recovery (measured as fatty acid methyl esters, FAME) as high as 90% using nontoxic ethyl acetate (EA) as the solvent and without altering the FAME distribution; for context, EA was able to extract less than 1% of FAME from control (not surfactant-treated) Chlorella. Disruption and high FAM...
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