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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 22, 2025

Analysis of Fatty Acid Content and Composition in Microalgae
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Effective lipid extraction from undewatered microalgae liquid using subcritical dimethyl ether.

Quan Wang1, Kazuyuki Oshita2, Masaki Takaoka1

  • 1Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Cluster C, Kyoto Daigaku-Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, 615-8540, Japan.

Biotechnology for Biofuels
|January 10, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces an energy-saving method for extracting lipids from microalgae using dimethyl ether (DME). This green solvent approach bypasses energy-intensive drying steps, offering a more economical and efficient process for biofuel production.

Keywords:
DMEFames profileLipidsLiquid–liquid subcritical extractionTrace metals

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Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology
  • Green Chemistry
  • Renewable Energy

Background:

  • Traditional microalgae lipid extraction is energy-intensive due to dewatering and drying steps.
  • High water content in thickened microalgae hinders conventional solvent extraction.
  • Dimethyl ether (DME) shows potential as a green solvent for efficient microalgal lipid extraction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop an energy-saving lipid extraction method for thickened microalgae using dimethyl ether (DME).
  • To optimize extraction parameters including solvent dosage, entrainer composition, and extraction time.
  • To compare the efficiency and characteristics of DME-based extraction with conventional methods.

Main Methods:

  • Lipid extraction from flocculation-thickened microalgae using DME and an ethanol-acetone entrainer solution.
  • Optimization of DME dosage, entrainer dosage, and ethanol:acetone ratio.
  • Characterization of extracted lipids using thermal analysis, spectroscopy, and elemental analysis.
  • Quantification of trace metals in lipids using ICP-MS and ICP-AES.

Main Results:

  • Optimal extraction achieved in 30 minutes with 4.2 mL DME/mL microalgae and 8% entrainer (1:2 ethanol:acetone).
  • The DME-based method recovered 26.4% raw lipids and 54.4% fatty acid methyl esters in the first extraction.
  • Lipids extracted via DME showed comparable composition but contained higher trace metal concentrations (Mg, Na, K, Fe).

Conclusions:

  • DME-based extraction offers an economical, energy-saving alternative by combining dewatering and lipid extraction without cell disruption.
  • The method is efficient for extracting lipids and fatty acid methyl esters from thickened microalgae.
  • Purification of extracted lipids is necessary due to the presence of trace metals for subsequent refining.