A green one pot approach for extracting free fatty acids from microalgae

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Green Chemistry
• Biorefinery

Background:

• Microalgae are a sustainable source of valuable compounds, including free fatty acids (FFAs).
• Efficient and environmentally friendly extraction methods for FFAs from microalgae are crucial for their industrial application.
• Traditional methods often involve harsh chemicals and multiple steps, limiting scalability and sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a green, one-pot method for extracting FFAs from microalgae.
• To optimize extraction conditions using bead milling and anion resin adsorption.
• To evaluate the efficiency and scalability of the developed method for various microalgae species.

Main Methods:

• A one-pot procedure combining bead milling for cell disruption and anion resin adsorption for FFA capture.
• Solid-solid and solid-liquid extraction steps followed by elution with ethanol and acetic acid.
• Quantitative analysis of FFAs from Spirulina platensis, Picochlorum sp., and mixed microalgae cultures.

Main Results:

• High extraction rates for major FFAs from Spirulina platensis (e.g., 87% for palmitic acid).
• Demonstrated scalability with 1g of Spirulina platensis yielding 6.3 mg of major FFAs.
• Achieved significant extraction rates for Picochlorum sp. (68%-92%) and mixed microalgae (53%-63%).

Conclusions:

• The developed method provides an efficient, green, and solvent-free approach for microalgal FFA extraction.
• This protocol is suitable for various microalgae, offering a sustainable route for FFA production.
• The method facilitates the production of FFA derivative products from microalgae, promoting biorefinery applications.