The Effect of Steam Explosion on Lipids Extraction From Microalgae and Derivation of Pectin Films from Waste Culture
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the properties of sustainable replacements for plastics and diesel fuel, derived from microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) subjected to steam explosion. During the process, oven temperatures of up to 500 °C were reached, with the experiments left for different times after reaching their maximum internal temperature. Lipids were extracted from algal cultures using a modified Folch method. The waste microalgae were combined with pectin and glycerol to form biodegradable films, and their solubilities and tensile strengths were measured. The highest yield was 124 mg lipids/g microalgae from 400 °C steam explosion for 45 minutes after reaching maximum conditions. The highest tensile strength of the pectin films was 10.8 MPa, from 400 °C steam exploded microalgae. Overall, steam explosion can improve lipid accessibility and tensile properties of pectin films, and a major recommendation was to perform a life cycle analysis on the entire process to determine energy balances and its impact on the environment.