Variation in lipid extractability by solvent in microalgae. Additional criterion for selecting species and strains for biofuel production from microalgae

• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.07.094
• Publication Date: 2015-07-29T22:21:49Z
• Authors: Héctor Mendoza; Laura Carmona; Patricia Assunção; Karen Freijanes; Adelina de la Jara; Eduardo Portillo; Alicia Torres
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; Sonication; Biofuels; Methanol; Liquid-Liquid Extraction; Microalgae; Solvents; Chloroform; Lipids; 7. Clean energy; 01 natural sciences

The lipid extractability of 14 microalgae species and strains was assessed using organic solvents (methanol and chloroform). The high variability detected indicated the potential for applying this parameter as an additional criterion for microalgae screening in industrial processes such as biofuel production from microalgae. Species without cell walls presented higher extractability than species with cell walls. Analysis of cell integrity by flow cytometry and staining with propidium iodide showed a significant correlation between higher resistance to the physical treatments of cell rupture by sonication and the lipid extractability of the microalgae. The results highlight the cell wall as a determining factor in the inter- and intraspecific variability in lipid extraction treatments.