Lipid estimation of microalgae via Finite element simulation using voltage discharging technique

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Bioenergy
• Microfluidics

Background:

• Fossil fuel depletion necessitates alternative energy sources.
• Microalgae offer a sustainable solution for biofuel production due to high lipid content.
• Accurate, single-cell lipid quantification is crucial for optimizing microalgae cultivation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel microfluidic approach for real-time, single-cell lipid estimation.
• To utilize a DC voltage discharging technique for capacitive measurement of lipid accumulation.
• To establish a correlation between capacitance measurements and lipid content in Chlorella vulgaris.

Main Methods:

• A microfluidic device was designed for single-cell analysis.
• A DC voltage discharging technique was employed for capacitive measurements.
• Numerical simulations (COMSOL Multiphysics®) were used to model capacitance variations with lipid content.

Main Results:

• Simulations showed significant capacitance differences correlating with lipid content.
• A capacitance ratio (0.11–0.44) demonstrated a clear correlation with lipid content (0–50%).
• Polynomial fitting achieved a high coefficient of determination (R² = 0.996), validating the simulation model.

Conclusions:

• The proposed DC voltage discharging technique is a simple, cost-effective, and label-free method for single-cell lipid estimation.
• This method provides a practical platform for advancing microalgae research.
• The technique offers opportunities for scalable bioenergy applications through rapid lipid quantification.