Extraction of lipids from Chlorella alga by supercritical hexane and demonstration of their subsequent catalytic hydrodeoxygenation

Si Nguyen, Imane Hachemi, Andre Rudnäs, Päivi Mäki-Arvela, Annika Smeds, Atte Aho, Jarl Hemming, Markus Peurla, Dmitry Murzin

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9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Extraction of lipids from Chlorella algae with supercritical hexane resulted in the high lipids yield of approximately 10% obtained at optimum conditions in terms of extraction time and agitation compared to the total content of lipids being 12%. Furthermore, an easiness of hexane recovery may be considered as economically and ecologically attractive. For the first time, in the current work catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of Chlorella algal lipids was studied over 5 wt % Ni/SiO2 at 300 °C and under 30 bar total pressure in H2. The conversion of lipids was about 15% as the catalyst was totally deactivated after 60 min. The transformation of lipids proceeded mostly via hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis with formation of free fatty acid (FFA). Lower activity might be attributed to deactivation of catalysts caused by chlorophylls and carotenoids. Even though the conversion is low, future studies in HDO of lipids extracted from other algae species having higher lipid content could be proposed. A coke resistant catalyst might be considered to improve catalytic activity.
Original languageUndefined/Unknown
Pages (from-to)10626–10634
JournalIndustrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
Volume55
Issue number40
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Keywords

  • engineering education

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