An Overview Study of Lipid Extraction Methods from Microalgae

Abstract

As a potential source of renewable biofuels, microalgae are rich in lipids and therefore are attractive feedstock for the sustainable generation of energy. New efficient lipid extraction methods are necessary to better understand how microalgae can be exploited for industrial biofuel applications. This study presents a detailed description of the different lipid extraction methods for microalgae and their principles, advantages, and limitations. The effectiveness and practicality of traditional solvent-based procedures like the Folch and Bligh & Dyer methods and their current variants, including improved solvent extraction and solvent-free approaches, are evaluated. Various mechanical methods, such as bead pounding and simple osmotic pressure extraction, are evaluated with regard to their usefulness in large-scale applications. Lipid recovery rates are examined using emerging technologies such as ultrasonic, microwave, enzyme-assisted, and isotonic extraction methods in order to determine the extent to which they can increase lipid recovery rates to reduce processing costs. Such methods are integrated for environmental sustainability and economic feasibility. Difficulties associated with the problem are identified, including cost-effectiveness, scalability, and energy consumption, as well as possible synergies among extraction technologies, in the review. Continuing to innovate and optimise lipid extraction technology, this work contributes to global efforts towards sustainable energy solutions by emphasising the need for continued commercialization of microalgal biofuels to mass scale.

Keywords: Biofuel, bioenergy, extraction methods, microalgae