The extraction of lipid from microalgae found in brackish water by terpenes

Sasirindara  Labua; Tanatya  Kenkhunthot

Authors

Sasirindara Labua Faculty of Food Technology, College of Agricultural Innovation and Food Technology, Rangsit University, Patumthani 12000, Thailand
Tanatya Kenkhunthot Faculty of Agricultural Innovation, College of Agricultural Innovation and Food Technology, Rangsit University, Patumthani 12000, Thailand

Keywords:

brackish water, extraction of lipid, green solvents, lipid extraction, microalgae, terpenes

Abstract

In this research, terpenes were used to evaluate the extraction of lipids from microalgae found in brackish water. p-Cymene, α-pinene, and d-limonene terpenes were used instead of petroleum-based solvents, which have a low boiling point and are toxic as well as highly flammable. The physical and thermal pretreatment method of grinding and then autoclaving at a temperature of 121°C and a pressure of 15 lb/in² was investigated to enhance the lipid extraction efficiency and excrete the intracellular lipid. The amount of lipid extracted by p-cymene was 29.23 ± 0.25 % (lipid wt./dry.wt. microalgae), whereas the amount of lipid extracted by n-hexane:methanol 3:1( v/v) was 13.5 ± 0.20 % (lipid wt./ dry.wt. microalgae). The quantity of fatty acid extracted from the microalgae was determined using GC-MS analysis. The results showed that the two main fatty acids were palmitic acid (C₆H₁₂O₂; 16:0) and oleic acid (C₁₈H₃₄O₂; C18:1). There was more palmitic acid (16:0) than oleic acid (C18:1) at 7.70% and 7.08%, respectively. This research found that using natural solvents to extract lipid from microalgae could be a feasible and sustainable alternative to petroleum solvents which are toxic, environmentally unfriendly and increase greenhouse gases causing climate change.

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