Two-Step Macromolecule Separation Process with Acid Pretreatment and High-Shear-Assisted Extraction for Microalgae-Based Biorefinery

Donghyun Kim; Seul-Gi Kang; Yong Keun Chang; Minsoo Kwak

doi:10.3390/su16177589

journal article Open Access Sep 02, 2024

Two-Step Macromolecule Separation Process with Acid Pretreatment and High-Shear-Assisted Extraction for Microalgae-Based Biorefinery

Donghyun Kim

Seul-Gi Kang Yong Keun Chang Minsoo Kwak

Sustainability Vol. 16 No. 17 pp. 7589 · MDPI AG

View at Publisher Save 10.3390/su16177589

Abstract

A simple two-stage extraction and recovery method for macromolecules from microalgae biomass, termed CASS (concentrating the microalgae solution, acid pretreatment, high-shear-assisted lipid extraction, and separation), was developed. This method effectively processed the wet biomass of Chlorella sp. ABC-001 at a moderately low biomass concentration (50 g/L). The optimal conditions were acid pretreatment with 5 wt.% H2SO4 at 100 °C for 1 h, followed by high-shear extraction using hexane at 3000 rpm for 30 min. The acid pretreatment hydrolyzed carbohydrates and phospholipids, disrupting the cell wall and membrane, while high-shear mixing enhanced mass transfer rates between solvents and lipids, overcoming the hydraulic barrier at the cell surface. Within 10 min after completing the process, the extraction mixture achieved natural phase separation into water, solvent, and biomass residue layers, each enriched with carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins, respectively. The CASS process demonstrated high esterifiable lipid yields (91%), along with substantial recovery of glucose (90%) and proteins (100%). The stable phase separation prevented emulsion formation, simplifying downstream processing. This study presents the results on cell disruption, optimal acid treatment concentration, and high-shear mixing to achieve macromolecule separation, expanding the lipid-centric microalgal process to a comprehensive biorefinery concept.

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Details

Published: Sep 02, 2024
Vol/Issue: 16(17)
Pages: 7589
License: View

Authors

D

Donghyun Kim

Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar

S

Seul-Gi Kang

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, KAIST, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea

Y

Yong Keun Chang

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, KAIST, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea

M

Minsoo Kwak

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, KAIST, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea

Funding

Qatar University Award: QUT2RP-CENG-24/25-501

Cite This Article

Donghyun Kim, Seul-Gi Kang, Yong Keun Chang, et al. (2024). Two-Step Macromolecule Separation Process with Acid Pretreatment and High-Shear-Assisted Extraction for Microalgae-Based Biorefinery. Sustainability, 16(17), 7589. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177589

Two-Step Macromolecule Separation Process with Acid Pretreatment and High-Shear-Assisted Extraction for Microalgae-Based Biorefinery

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