Technologies for extracting lipids from oleaginous microorganisms for biodiesel production

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 microalgae, 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.

Key words： oleaginous microorganisms; biodiesel; solvent extraction; ultrasound-assisted extraction; microwave-assisted extraction; supercritical fluid extraction (SFE)

Acknowledgements

This work was financed by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 20976140). The authors are grateful to Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, USA and Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education for providing the condition of researching.

References

1 Nigam P S, Singh A. Production of liquid biofuels from renewable resources. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 2011, 37(1): 52–68

2 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

3 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

PMID

4 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

5 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

6 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

PMID

7 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

8 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

9 Christie W W. Preparation of lipid extracts from tissues. Advances in Lipid Methodology, 1993, 2: 195–213

10 Sing S F, Isdepsky A, Borowitzka M A, Moheimani N R. Production of biofuels from microalgae. 2011–<month>04</month>–<day>26</day>, http://www.springerlink.com/content/m00632n167048n75/fulltext.pdf

11 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

12 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

13 Rose H G, Oklander M. Improved procedure for the extraction of lipids from human erythrocytes. Journal of Lipid Research, 1965, 6(3): 428–431

PMID

14 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

15 Wren J J, Mitchell H K. Extraction methods and an investigation of drosophila lipids. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1959, 234(11): 2823–2828

PMID

16 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

PMID

17 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

PMID

18 Pulz O, Gross W. Valuable products from biotechnology of microalgae. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2004, 65(6): 635–648

PMID

19 Borowitzka M A. Microalgae as sources of pharmaceuticals and other biologically active compounds. Journal of Applied Phycology, 1995, 7(1): 3–15

20 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

21 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)

22 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

PMID

23 Tybulewicz V L, Tremblay M L, LaMarca M E, Willemsen R, Stubblefield B K, Winfield S, Zablocka B, Sidransky E, Martin B M, 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

PMID

24 Park S J, Choi Y E, Kim E J, Park W K, Kim C W, Yang J W. Serial optimization of biomass production using microalga Nannochloris oculata and corresponding lipid biosynthesis. Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, 2012, 35(1-2): 3–9

PMID

25 Carlson L A. Extraction of lipids from human whole serum and lipoproteins and from rat liver tissue with methylene chloride-methanol: a comparison with extraction with chloroform-methanol. International Journal of Clinical Chemistry, 1985, 149(1): 89–93

PMID

26 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

PMID

27 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

PMID

28 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

29 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

PMID

30 Gu Z, Yao H, Zhi H, Lin J. Measurement of two compounds VLE data and calculation of three compounds VLE data in hylacetate-ethanol-water-glycerol. Chemical Research and Application, 2004, 16(5): 653–654

31 Kim B K, Park P K, Chae H J, Kim E Y. Effect of phenol on B-carotene content in total carotenoids production in cultivation of Rhodotorula glutinis. Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2004, 21(3): 689–692

32 Allen P C. New extraction method for nematode lipids. Analytical Biochemistry, 1972, 45(1): 253–259

PMID

33 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

PMID

34 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

PMID

35 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

PMID

36 Harvey D M R. Freeze-substitution. Journal of Microscopy, 1982, 127(Pt 2): 209–221

PMID

37 Schmid P, Calvert J, Steiner R. Extraction and purification of lipids: IV. Alternative binary solvent systems to replace chloroform-methanol in studies on biological membranes. Physiological Chemistry and Physics, 1973, 5(2): 157–166

38 Mecham D, Mohammad A. Extraction of lipids from wheat products. Cereal Chemistry, 1955, 32(5): 405–415

39 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

PMID

40 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

41 McGrath L T, Elliott R J. Lipid analysis and fatty acid profiles of individual arterial atherosclerotic plaques. Analytical Biochemistry, 1990, 187(2): 273–276

PMID

42 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

PMID

43 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)

44 Sobus M T, Homlund C E. Extraction of lipids from yeast. Lipids, 1976, 11(4): 341–348

PMID

45 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

PMID

46 Schneiter R, Daum G. Extraction of yeast lipids. Methods in Molecular Biology, 2006, 313: 41–45

PMID

47 Hadvary P, Hochuli E, Kupfer E, Lengsfeld H, Weibel E K. Leucine Derivatives. <patent>US Patent 4598089</patent>. 1986

48 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

49 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

PMID

50 Ranjan A, Patil C, Moholkar V S. Mechanistic assessment of microalgal lipid extraction. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2010, 49(6): 2979–2985

51 Ways P, Hanahan D J. Characterization and quantification of red cell lipids in normal man. Journal of Lipid Research, 1964, 5(3): 318–328

PMID

52 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

53 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

54 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

55 Nakajima T, Kondo A. Method for Extracting Fat-Soluble Components from Microbial Cells. <patent>US Patent 6258964 B1</patent>, 2001

56 Boselli E, Velazco V, Caboni M F, Lercker G. Pressurized liquid extraction of lipids for the determination of oxysterols in egg-containing food. Journal of Chromatography A, 2001, 917(1,2): 239–244

57 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

58 Iqbal J. Development of cost-effective and benign lipid extraction system for microalgae. Dissertation for the Doctoral Degree. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University, 2012

59 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

PMID

60 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

PMID

61 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

PMID

62 Andrich G, Nesti U, Venturi F, Zinnai A, Fiorentini R. Supercritical fluid extraction of bioactive lipids from the microalga Nannochloropsisβsp. European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, 2005, 107(6): 381–386

63 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

PMID

64 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

65 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

66 Gonzáez-Vila F J, Bautista J M, 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

PMID

67 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

68 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

69 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

70 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

71 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

72 Hubbard J, Downing J, Ram M, Chung O. Lipid extraction from wheat flour using supercritical fluid extraction. Cereal Chemistry, 2004, 91(6): 693–698

73 Gong C H, Jin B, Yao Y D, Liu H C. Supercritical CO₂ extraction of microorganism lipids. <patent>China Patent CN03139630.5</patent>. 2005

74 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

75 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

76 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

77 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

78 Kopcak U, Mohamed R S. Caffeine solubility in supercritical carbon dioxide/co-solvent mixtures. Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 2005, 34(2): 209–214

79 Sauceau M, Letourneau J J, Freiss B, Richon D, Fages J. Solubility of eflucimibe in supercritical carbon dioxide with or without a co-solvent. Journal of Supercritical Fluids, 2004, 31(2): 133–140

80 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

PMID

81 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

PMID

82 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

83 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

84 Schinor E C, Salvador M J, 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

PMID

85 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

86 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

87 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

PMID

88 Pare J R J, Sigouin M, Lapointe J. Microwave-assisted natural products extraction. <patent>US Patent 5002784</patent>, 1991

89 Ganzler K, Salgó A, Valkó K. Microwave extraction. A novel sample preparation method for chromatography. Journal of Chromatography. A, 1986, 371: 299–306

PMID

90 Leray C, Grcic T, Gutbier G, Bnouham M. Microwave oven extraction procedure for lipid analysis in biological samples. Analusis, 1995, 23(2): 65–67

91 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

92 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

93 Teixeira R E. Energy-efficient extraction of fuel and chemical feedstocks from algae. Green Chemistry, 2012, 14(2): 419–427

94 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

95 Schonemann H, Gudinas A, Williams K, Wetmore P, Krukonis V. Method for extraction and concentration of carotenoids using supercritical fluids. <patent>US Patent 7329789 B1</patent>, 2008