Enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction of lipid from microalgae

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Biochemical Engineering
• Algal Biomass Processing

Background:

• Conventional microalgal lipid extraction methods face challenges in efficiency and scalability.
• Enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction processing (EAEP) presents a potential alternative for sustainable lipid recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish an improved enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction process (EAEP) for microalgal lipid extraction.
• To compare the efficacy of different enzymes and process conditions for enhanced lipid recovery.

Main Methods:

• Microalgal samples were subjected to sonication and enzymatic treatment using various enzymes (snailase, trypsin, cellulase, neutral protease, alkaline protease).
• Optimized conditions included a combined sonication-enzyme treatment at pH 4.
• Analysis of enhancement mechanisms involved particle size of cream and zeta potential.

Main Results:

• Snailase and trypsin demonstrated significantly higher lipid recovery compared to cellulase, neutral protease, and alkaline protease.
• The highest lipid recovery achieved was 49.82% using a combined sonication-snailase treatment at pH 4.
• Lipid recovery is influenced by algal lipid class composition and species.

Conclusions:

• Enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction processing (EAEP) is a promising and efficient method for microalgal lipid extraction.
• The study provides valuable quantitative data for scaling up EAEP for industrial microalgal lipid production.
• Optimized EAEP offers a sustainable alternative to conventional lipid extraction techniques.