Using switchable solvents for enhanced, simultaneous microalgae oil extraction-reaction for biodiesel production

Mariam Al-Ameri, Sulaiman Al-Zuhair

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

55 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Switchable solvents with hydrophobicities that can be reversibly changed were evaluated as single solvents for oil extraction from wet biomass. Three switchable solvents, N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine (DMCHA), N-ethylbutylamine (EBA), and dipropylamine, were used to extract oil from the undisrupted wet paste of harvested Chlorella sp. microalgae. The oil extraction yields for the three solvents were 13.6%, 12.3%, and 7.0%, respectively. However, single hydrophobicity solvents n-hexane and [Bmim][PF6] were unable to extract any oil, achieving yields of 0% and 0.7%, respectively. A parametric study was performed to evaluate the effects of temperature, cell disruption duration, and extraction duration on the effectiveness of oil extraction. The results were used to develop a statistical model to predict oil extraction effectiveness under different conditions. The switchable solvents were also evaluated in simultaneous extraction-reaction systems used to convert the oils extracted from wet microalgae into biodiesel. The use of enzymes was found to enhance the production yield of biodiesel by 33%. The highest biodiesel yield of 47.5% was achieved using DMCHA at 35 °C with a methanol/oil molar ratio of 6:1 and a 30% enzyme loading employing a solvent program comprising 1-h cell disruption, 1-h extraction/reaction, and 1-h phase separation steps. The proposed strategy of using a single solvent for simultaneous extraction and reaction could substantially simplify biodiesel production from wet microalgae.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)217-224
Number of pages8
JournalBiochemical Engineering Journal
Volume141
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 15 2019

Keywords

  • Biodiesel
  • Oil extraction
  • Simultaneous extraction-reaction
  • Switchable solvents

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Bioengineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Biomedical Engineering

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