Microalgal cell disruption via ultrasonic nozzle spraying

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Chemical Engineering
• Algal Biotechnology

Background:

• Microalgal biomass is a promising source for biofuels and high-value compounds.
• Efficient cell disruption is crucial for maximizing lipid yield from microalgae.
• Ultrasonic nozzle spraying systems (UNSS) offer a novel approach for microalgal cell disruption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of operating parameters on microalgal cell disruption and lipid extraction using an ultrasonic nozzle spraying system (UNSS).
• To evaluate the effectiveness of UNSS for two different microalgal species: Scenedesmus dimorphus and Nannochloropsis oculata.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an ultrasonic nozzle spraying system (UNSS) to process microalgal cultures.
• Varied key operating parameters: ultrasound amplitude, spraying pressure, nozzle orifice diameter, and initial cell concentration.
• Assessed cell disruption via changes in cell concentration and lipid content using Nile red staining.

Main Results:

• UNSS significantly disrupted microalgal cells, confirmed by cell concentration and lipid fluorescence.
• Increased ultrasound amplitude generally improved cell disruption and lipid recovery, but excessive energy was not optimal.
• Optimal spraying pressure and nozzle diameter for disruption occurred at moderate levels, varying by algal species.
• Higher initial cell concentrations reduced the efficiency of cell disruption.

Conclusions:

• The UNSS is an effective technology for microalgal cell disruption and lipid extraction.
• Operating parameters must be carefully optimized, considering algal species, for efficient UNSS performance.
• Further research can refine UNSS parameters for large-scale algal lipid recovery.