Abstract
Recently, biodiesel has received much more attention. Soybean oil, rapeseed oil, palm oil and corn oil are primary feedstock for biodiesel production. However, biodiesel production from these traditional oil-rich crops is limited by land availability, climate, and environmental and social issues regarding the use of feed and food crops for fuel. Oleaginous microorganisms, including micro-algae, bacteria, yeast and fungi can be cultivated with high lipid contents and used as promising feedstock for biodiesel production. However, the high cost of biodiesel production using oil microorganisms has been the biggest obstacle for its industrialization. The process of biodiesel production from microorganisms involves many steps, of which the lipids extraction is the most important and costly. Therefore, searching for an effective and economical extraction system is critical. Various approaches of lipids extraction are discussed in this review, including traditional extraction procedures such as solvent extraction, pressing and solvent integrated extraction, as well as some new procedures.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Nigam P S, Singh A. Production of liquid biofuels from renewable resources. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 2011, 37(1): 52–68
Agarwal A K. Biofuels (alcohols and biodiesel) applications as fuels for internal combustion engines. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 2007, 33(3): 233–271
Singh A, Pant D, Korres N E, Nizami A S, Prasad S, Murphy J D. Key issues in life cycle assessment of ethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass: Challenges and perspectives. Bioresource Technology, 2010, 101(13): 5003–5012
Prasad S, Singh A, Joshi H C. Ethanol as an alternative fuel from agricultural, industrial and urban residues. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2007, 50(1): 1–39
Singh A, Smyth B M, Murphy J D. A biofuel strategy for Ireland with an emphasis on production of biomethane and minimization of land-take. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2010, 14(1): 277–288
Xu H, Miao X L, Wu Q Y. High quality biodiesel production from a microalga Chlorella protothecoides by heterotrophic growth in fermenters. Journal of Biotechnology, 2006, 126(4): 499–507
Gao C F, Zhai Y, Ding Y, Wu Q Y. Application of sweet sorghum for biodiesel production by heterotrophic microalga Chlorella protothecoides. Applied Energy, 2010, 87(3): 756–761
Grima E M, Belarbi E H, Fernandez F G A, Medina A R, Chisti Y. Recovery of microalgal biomass and metabolites: process options and economics. Biotechnology Advances, 2003, 20(7,8): 491–515
Christie W W. Preparation of lipid extracts from tissues. Advances in Lipid Methodology, 1993, 2: 195–213
Sing S F, Isdepsky A, Borowitzka M A, Moheimani N R. Production of biofuels from microalgae. 2011-04-26, http://www.springerlink.com/content/m00632n167048n75/fulltext.pdf
Shih C N, Marth E H. Aflatoxin formation, lipid synthesis, and glucose metabolism by Aspergillus parasiticus during incubation with and without agitation. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) General Subjects, 1974, 338(1): 286–296
Douglas Brown B, Hsu K H, Hammond E G, Glatz B A. A relationship between growth and lipid accumulation in Candida curvata D. Journal of Fermentation and Bioengineering, 1989, 68(5): 344–352
Rose H G, Oklander M. Improved procedure for the extraction of lipids from human erythrocytes. Journal of Lipid Research, 1965, 6(3): 428–431
Khor H, Chan S. Comparative studies of three solvent mixtures for the extraction of soybean lipids. Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 1985, 62(1): 98–99
Wren J J, Mitchell H K. Extraction methods and an investigation of drosophila lipids. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1959, 234(11): 2823–2828
Newman H A, Gordon E A, Heggen D W, Keller M D. Rapid extraction of triglycerides from human adipose tissue with petroleum ether. Clinical Chemistry, 1972, 18(3): 290–292
Zhang Y, Dubé M A, McLean D D, Kates M. Biodiesel production from waste cooking oil: 2. Economic assessment and sensitivity analysis. Bioresource Technology, 2003, 90(3): 229–240
Pulz O, Gross W. Valuable products from biotechnology of microalgae. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2004, 65(6): 635–648
Borowitzka M A. Microalgae as sources of pharmaceuticals and other biologically active compounds. Journal of Applied Phycology, 1995, 7(1): 3–15
Meng X, Yang J M, Xu X, Zhang L, Nie Q J, Xian M. Biodiesel production from oleaginous microorganisms. Renewable Energy, 2009, 34(1): 1–5
Bao Z H, Shi M R. Preliminary measurement of drying property for two-phase extracted rapeseed meal and cottenseed meal. China Oils and Fats, 1999, 24(3): 57–59 (in Chinese)
Folch J, Lees M, Sloane Stanley G H. A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipides from animal tissues. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1957, 226(1): 497–509
Tybulewicz V L, Tremblay M L, LaMarca M E, Willemsen R, Stubblefield B K, Winfield S, Zablocka B, Sidransky E, Martin BM, Huang S P, Mintzer K A, Westphal H, Mulligan R C, Ginns E I. Animal model of Gaucher’s disease from targeted disruption of the mouse glucocerebrosidase gene. Nature, 1992, 357(6377): 407–410
Park S J, Choi Y E, Kim E J, Park WK, Kim CW, Yang JW. Serial optimization of biomass production using microalga Nannochloris oculata and corresponding lipid biosynthesis. Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, 2012, 35(1–2): 3–9
Carlson L A. Extraction of lipids from human whole serum and lipoproteins and from rat liver tissue with methylene chloridemethanol: a comparison with extraction with chloroform-methanol. International Journal of Clinical Chemistry, 1985, 149(1): 89–93
Parkin K L, Kuo S J. Chilling-induced lipid degradation in cucumber (Cucumis sativa L. cv Hybrid C) fruit. Plant Physiology, 1989, 90(3): 1049–1056
Yahara S, Kawamura N, Kishimoto Y, Saida T, Tourtellotte W W. A change in the cerebrosides and sulfatides in a demyelinating nervous system: Development of the methodology and study of multiple sclerosis and Wallerian degeneration. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 1982, 54(2): 303–315
Somersalo S, Karunen P, Aro E M. The acyl lipid composition of wheat leaves and moss protonemata using a new, non-carcinogenic extraction solvent system. Physiologia Plantarum, 1986, 68(3): 467–470
Katayama K, Takada M, Yuzuriha T, Abe K, Ikenoya S. Simultaneous determination of ubiquinone-10 and ubiquinol-10 in tissues and mitochondria by high performance liquid chromatography. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 1980, 95(3): 971–977
Gu Z, Yao H, Zhi H, Lin J. Measurement of two compounds VLE data and calculation of three compounds VLE data in hylacetateethanol-water-glycerol. Chemical Research and Application, 2004, 16(5): 653–654
Kim B K, Park P K, Chae H J, Kim E Y. Effect of phenol on Bcarotene content in total carotenoids production in cultivation of Rhodotorula glutinis. Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2004, 21(3): 689–692
Allen P C. New extraction method for nematode lipids. Analytical Biochemistry, 1972, 45(1): 253–259
Cham B E, Knowles B R. A solvent system for delipidation of plasma or serum without protein precipitation. Journal of Lipid Research, 1976, 17(2): 176–181
Martins S V, Lopes P A, Alfaia C M, Rodrigues P O, Alves S P, Pinto R M, Castro M F, Bessa R J, Prates J A. Serum adipokine profile and fatty acid composition of adipose tissues are affected by conjugated linoleic acid and saturated fat diets in obese Zucker rats. British Journal of Nutrition, 2010, 103(6): 869–878
Matyash V, Liebisch G, Kurzchalia T V, Shevchenko A, Schwudke D. Lipid extraction by methyl-tert-butyl ether for high-throughput lipidomics. Journal of Lipid Research, 2008, 49(5): 1137–1146
Harvey D M R. Freeze-substitution. Journal of Microscopy, 1982, 127(Pt 2): 209–221
Schmid P, Calvert J, Steiner R. Extraction and purification of lipids: IV. Alternative binary solvent systems to replace chloroformmethanol in studies on biological membranes. Physiological Chemistry and Physics, 1973, 5(2): 157–166
Mecham D, Mohammad A. Extraction of lipids from wheat products. Cereal Chemistry, 1955, 32(5): 405–415
Morrison W R, Tan S L, Hargin K D. Methods for the quantitative analysis of lipids in cereal grains and similar tissues. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 1980, 31(4): 329–340
Melton S, Moyers R, Playford C. Lipids extracted from soy products by different procedures. Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 1979, 56(4): 489–493
McGrath L T, Elliott R J. Lipid analysis and fatty acid profiles of individual arterial atherosclerotic plaques. Analytical Biochemistry, 1990, 187(2): 273–276
Lee J Y, Yoo C, Jun S Y, Ahn C Y, Oh H M. Comparison of several methods for effective lipid extraction from microalgae. Bioresource Technology, 2010, 101(1 Suppl 1): S75–S77
Du K, Sun X L, Sun Y M, Chen L. Selection of carbon source and nitrogen source for microbial lipid production by fermentation with Trichosporon fermentans. China Oils and Fats, 2010, 35(7): 35–38 (in Chinese)
Sobus M T, Homlund C E. Extraction of lipids from yeast. Lipids, 1976, 11(4): 341–348
Amalia Kartika I, Pontalier P Y, Rigal L. Extraction of sunflower oil by twin screw extruder: screw configuration and operating condition effects. Bioresource Technology, 2006, 97(18): 2302–2310
Schneiter R, Daum G. Extraction of yeast lipids. Methods in Molecular Biology, 2006, 313: 41–45
Hadvary P, Hochuli E, Kupfer E, Lengsfeld H, Weibel E K. Leucine Derivatives. US Patent 4598089. 1986
Takada M, Ikenoya S, Yuzuriha T, Katayama K. Studies on reduced and oxidized coenzyme Q (ubiquinones). II. The determination of oxidation-reduction levels of coenzyme Q in mitochondria, microsomes and plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Bioenergetics, 1982, 679(2): 308–314
Raj K, Misra N, Pachauri G, Sharma M, Tamrakar A K, Singh A B, Srivastava A K, Phani Kiran K, Narasimha Rao C V, Prubhu S R. Novel class of hybrid natural products as antidiabetic agents. Natural Product Research, 2009, 23(1): 60–69
Ranjan A, Patil C, Moholkar V S. Mechanistic assessment of microalgal lipid extraction. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2010, 49(6): 2979–2985
Ways P, Hanahan D J. Characterization and quantification of red cell lipids in normal man. Journal of Lipid Research, 1964, 5(3): 318–328
Fajardo A R, Cerdán L E, Medina A R, Fernández F G A, Moreno P A G, Grima E M. Lipid extraction from the microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum. European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, 2007, 109(2): 120–126
Smith J S. Evaluation of Analytical Data. Food Analysis (Nielsen S ed. Food Science Text Series). New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Press, 2003, 51–64
Ryckebosch E, Muylaert K, Foubert I. Optimization of an analytical procedure for extraction of lipids from microalgae. Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 2012, 89(2): 189–198
Nakajima T, Kondo A. Method for Extracting Fat-Soluble Components from Microbial Cells. US Patent 6258964 B1, 2001
Boselli E, Velazco V, Caboni M F, Lercker G. Pressurized liquid extraction of lipids for the determination of oxysterols in eggcontaining food. Journal of Chromatography A, 2001, 917(1,2): 239–244
Richter B E, Jones B A, Ezzell J L, Porter N L, Avdalovic N, Pohl C. Accelerated solvent extraction: A technique for sample preparation. Analytical Chemistry, 1996, 68(6): 1033–1039
Iqbal J. Development of cost-effective and benign lipid extraction system for microalgae. Dissertation for the Doctoral Degree. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University, 2012
Herrero M, Ibáñez E, Cifuentes A, Señoráns J. Pressurized liquid extracts from Spirulina platensis microalga. Determination of their antioxidant activity and preliminary analysis by micellar electrokinetic chromatography. Journal of Chromatography. A, 2004, 1047(2): 195–203
Jaime L, Mendiola J A, Herrero M, Soler-Rivas C, Santoyo S, Señorans F J, Cifuentes A, Ibáñez E. Separation and characterization of antioxidants from Spirulina platensis microalga combining pressurized liquid extraction, TLC, and HPLC-DAD. Journal of Separation Science, 2005, 28(16): 2111–2119
Rodríguez-Meizoso I, Jaime L, Santoyo S, Cifuentes A, García-Blairsy Reina G, Señorás F J, Ibáez E. Pressurized fluid extraction of bioactive compounds from Phormidium species. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2008, 56(10): 3517–3523
Andrich G, Nesti U, Venturi F, Zinnai A, Fiorentini R. Supercritical fluid extraction of bioactive lipids from the microalga Nannochloropsis sp. European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, 2005, 107(6): 381–386
Heikes D L, Scott B, Gorzovalitis N A. Quantitation of volatile oils in ground cumin by supercritical fluid extraction and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Journal of AOAC International, 2001, 84(4): 1130–1134
Ivanov D, Čolović R, Bera O, Lević J, Sredanović S. Supercritical fluid extraction as a method for fat content determination and preparative technique for fatty acid analysis in mesh feed for pigs. European Food Research and Technology, 2011, 233(2): 343–350
Ixtaina V Y, Vega A, Nolasco S M, Tomá M C, Gimeno M, Bázana E, Tecante A. Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of oil from Mexican chia seed (Salvia hispanica L.): Characterization and process optimization. Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 2010, 55(1): 192–199
Gonzáez-Vila F J, Bautista JM, Gutiérez A, Del Rio J C, Gonzáez A G. Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of lipids from Eucalyptus globulus wood. Journal of Biochemical and Biophysical Methods, 2000, 43(1–3): 345–351
Wang L, Weller C L, Schlegel V L, Carr T P, Cuppett S L. Comparison of supercritical CO2 and hexane extraction of lipids from sorghum distillers grains. European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, 2007, 109(6): 567–574
Sahena F, Zaidul I, Jinap S, Karim A, Abbas K, Norulaini N, Omar A. Application of supercritical CO2 in lipid extraction-A review. Journal of Food Engineering, 2009, 95(2): 240–253
Couto R M, Fernandes J, da Silva M, Simõs P C. Supercritical fluid extraction of lipids from spent coffee grounds. Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 2009, 51(2): 159–166
Boutin O, Badens E. Extraction from oleaginous seeds using supercritical CO2: Experimental design and products quality. Journal of Food Engineering, 2009, 92(4): 396–402
Rakhuba D, Novik G, Dey E S. Application of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) for the extraction of glycolipids from Lactobacillus plantarum B-01. Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 2009, 49(1): 45–51
Hubbard J, Downing J, Ram M, Chung O. Lipid extraction from wheat flour using supercritical fluid extraction. Cereal Chemistry, 2004, 91(6): 693–698
Gong C H, Jin B, Yao Y D, Liu H C. Supercritical CO2 extraction of microorganism lipids. China Patent CN03139630.5. 2005
Andrich G, Zinnai A, Nesti U, Venturi F. Supercritical fluid extraction of oil from microalga Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis. Acta Alimentaria, 2006, 35(2): 195–203
Mendes R L, Nobre B P, Cardoso M T, Pereira A P, Palavra A F. Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of compounds with pharmaceutical importance from microalgae. Inorganica Chimica Acta, 2003, 356: 328–334
Couto R M, Simõs P C, Reis A, da Silva T L, Martins V H, Sáchez-Vicente Y. Supercritical fluid extraction of lipids from the heterotrophic microalga Crypthecodinium cohnii. Engineering in Life Sciences, 2010, 10(2): 158–164
Mendes R L, Nobre B P, Cardoso M T, Pereira A P, Palavra A F. Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of compounds with pharmaceutical importance from microalgae. Inorganica Chimica Acta, 2003, 356: 328–334
Kopcak U, Mohamed R S. Caffeine solubility in supercritical carbon dioxide/co-solvent mixtures. Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 2005, 34(2): 209–214
Sauceau M, Letourneau J J, Freiss B, Richon D, Fages J. Solubility of eflucimibe in supercritical carbon dioxide with or without a cosolvent. Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 2004, 31(2): 133–140
Vinatoru M, Toma M, Radu O, Filip P I, Lazurca D, Mason T J. The use of ultrasound for the extraction of bioactive principles from plant materials. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 1997, 4(2): 135–139
Chemat F, Grondin I, Costes P, Moutoussamy L, Sing A S, Smadja J. High power ultrasound effects on lipid oxidation of refined sunflower oil. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 2004, 11(5): 281–285
Metherel A H, Taha A Y, Izadi H, Stark K D. The application of ultrasound energy to increase lipid extraction throughput of solid matrix samples (flaxseed). Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 2009, 81(5,6): 417–423
Palma M, Barroso C G. Ultrasound-assisted extraction and determination of tartaric and malic acids from grapes and winemaking by-products. Analytica Chimica Acta, 2002, 458(1): 119–130
Schinor E C, Salvador MJ, Turatti I C C, Zucchi O L A D, Dias D A. Comparison of classical and ultrasound-assisted extractions of steroids and triterpenoids from three Chresta spp. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 2004, 11(6): 415–421
Herrero M, Cifuentes A, Ibanez E. Sub-and supercritical fluid extraction of functional ingredients from different natural sources: Plants, food-by-products, algae and microalgae: A review. Food Chemistry, 2006, 98(1): 136–148
Alupului A, Calinescu I, Lavric V. Ultrasonic vs. microwave extraction intensification of active principles from medicinal plants. 2008, http://www.aidic.it/icheap9/webpapers/14Alupului.pdf
Balasubramanian S, Allen J D, Kanitkar A, Boldor D. Oil extraction from Scenedesmus obliquus using a continuous microwave system—design, optimization, and quality characterization. Bioresource Technology, 2011, 102(3): 3396–3403
Pare J R J, Sigouin M, Lapointe J. Microwave-assisted natural products extraction. US Patent 5002784, 1991
Ganzler K, Salgó A, Valkó K. Microwave extraction. A novel sample preparation method for chromatography. Journal of Chromatography. A, 1986, 371: 299–306
Leray C, Grcic T, Gutbier G, Bnouham M. Microwave oven extraction procedure for lipid analysis in biological samples. Analusis, 1995, 23(2): 65–67
Liu Y, Shi J, Langrish T. Water-based extraction of pectin from flavedo and albedo of orange peels. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2006, 120(3): 203–209
Antezana Z, Mauricio D R. Investigation of pulsed electric field (PEF) as an intensification pretreatment for solvent lipid extraction from microalgae, utilizing ethyl acetate as a greener substitute to chloroform-based extraction. Dissertation for the Master’s Degree. Lawrence: University of Kansas, 2011
Teixeira R E. Energy-efficient extraction of fuel and chemical feedstocks from algae. Green Chemistry, 2012, 14(2): 419–427
Young G, Nippgen F, Titterbrandt S, Cooney M J. Lipid extraction from biomass using co-solvent mixtures of ionic liquids and polar covalent molecules. Separation and Purification Technology, 2010, 72(1): 118–121
Schonemann H, Gudinas A, Williams K, Wetmore P, Krukonis V. Method for extraction and concentration of carotenoids using supercritical fluids. US Patent 7329789 B1, 2008
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wang, C., Chen, L., Rakesh, B. et al. Technologies for extracting lipids from oleaginous microorganisms for biodiesel production. Front. Energy 6, 266–274 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-012-0193-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-012-0193-y