A Simple, Cost-Efficient Method to Separate Microalgal Lipids from Wet Biomass Using Surface Energy-Modified...

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Microalgae are a sustainable source for biodiesel production.
• Efficient lipid extraction and separation are crucial for downstream processing.
• Current separation methods can be complex and energy-intensive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel membrane for efficient separation of lipids from microalgae.
• To functionalize a stainless steel membrane using initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD).
• To enhance lipid separation performance and simplify the overall process.

Main Methods:

• A stainless steel (SUS) membrane was coated with a functional polymer using iCVD.
• Surface energy of the membrane was systematically modified.
• The modified membrane was tested for oil-water mixture separation using a chloroform-based solvent.

Main Results:

• The functionalized membrane demonstrated selective separation of oil-water mixtures.
• High separation yield of 95.5 ± 1.2% for fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) was achieved.
• The membrane exhibited excellent permeate flux and breakthrough pressure.

Conclusions:

• Membrane functionalization via iCVD is effective for lipid separation from microalgae.
• The developed membrane technology simplifies downstream processing for microalgae-derived biodiesel.
• This approach offers a promising route for sustainable biofuel production.