Optimization of oil extraction from Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae using response surface method and evaluation of its fatty acid profile in order to biodiesel production

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D. in Microbial Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran

2 Professor in Biology Department, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Large scale biodiesel production from renewable sources like microalgae is an appropriate option to replace nonrenewable fuels. The biodiesel production procedure from microalgae involves costly and energy consuming processes such as harvesting and drying of microalgae and oil extraction. The expansion of effective commercially oil extraction processes is considered as one of the most requirements for large scale production. Thus, in this study, oil extraction conditions from Haematococcus pluvialis, including temperature and solvent mixture content, was optimized by applying response surface method. Optimum points were obtained at 42.6°C and 17.23mL for temperature and solvents content, respectively. The algal oil was extracted in optimized and unoptimized conditions and fatty acid profile of these extracted oils was compared together. Results showed that the optimization has positive effects on the extracted fatty acids profile which can be used to produce biodiesel with higher quality.

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