Sustainable production of eicosapentaenoic acid-rich oil from microalgae: Towards an algal biorefinery (original) (raw)
Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 2000
A low expense process is developed for recovering esterified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from microalgae and fish oil. Over 70% of the EPA content in the esterified crude extract of microalgae were recovered at purities exceeding 90%. The recovery scheme utilizes either wet or freeze-dried algal biomass. The process consists of only three main steps: 1) simultaneous extraction and transesterification of the algal biomass; 2) argentated silica gel column chromatography of the crude extract; and 3) removal of pigments by a second column chromatographic step. Argentated silica gel chromatography recovered about 70% of the EPA ester present in the crude fatty ester mixture of fish oil, but at a reduced purity (ϳ83% pure) compared to the microalgal derived EPA. The optimal loading of the fatty ester mixture on the chromatographic support was about 3% (w/w) but loadings up to 4% did not affect the resolution significantly. The process was scaled up by a factor of nearly 320 by increasing the diameter of the chromatography columns. The elution velocity remained constant. Compared to the green alga Monodus subterraneus, the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum had important advantages as a potential commercial producer of EPA. For a microalgal EPA process to be competitive with fish oil derived EPA, P. tricornutum biomass (2.5% w/w EPA) needs to be obtained at less than $4/kg. If the EPA content in the alga are increased to 3.5%, the biomass may command a somewhat higher price. The quality of microalgal EPA compares favorably with that of the fish oil product. Compared to free fatty acid, EPA ester is more stable in storage. Shelf-life is extended by storing in hexane. The silver contamination in the final purified EPA was negligibly small (Ͻ210 ppb).
Microalgal biofactories: a promising approach towards sustainable omega-3 fatty acid production
Microbial Cell Factories, 2012
Omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) provide significant health benefits and this has led to an increased consumption as dietary supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are found in animals, transgenic plants, fungi and many microorganisms but are typically extracted from fatty fish, putting additional pressures on global fish stocks. As primary producers, many marine microalgae are rich in EPA (C20:5) and DHA (C22:6) and present a promising source of omega-3 fatty acids. Several heterotrophic microalgae have been used as biofactories for omega-3 fatty acids commercially, but a strong interest in autotrophic microalgae has emerged in recent years as microalgae are being developed as biofuel crops. This paper provides an overview of microalgal biotechnology and production platforms for the development of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. It refers to implications in current biotechnological uses of microalgae as aquaculture feed and future biofuel crops and explores potential applications of metabolic engineering and selective breeding to accumulate large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids in autotrophic microalgae.
Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2025
long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have been widely applied due to their nutraceutical and healthcare benefits. with the rising rates of chronic diseases, there is a growing consumer interest and demand for sustainable dietary sources of n-3 PUFAs. currently, microalgae have emerged as a sustainable source of n-3 PUFAs which are rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (ePA), regarded as promising alternatives to conventional sources (seafood) that cannot meet the growing demands of natural food supplements. this review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in strategies such as genetic engineering, mutagenesis, improving photosynthetic efficiency, nutritional or environmental factors, and cultivation approaches to improve DHA and ePA production efficiency in microalgae cells. Additionally, it explains the application of DHA and ePA-rich microalgae in animal feed, human nutrition-snacks, and supplements to avoid malnutrition and non-communicable diseases.
Eicosapentaenoic acid-rich biomass production by the microalga in a continuous-flow reactor
Bioresource Technol, 1996
The marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin is a potential source of the pharmaceutically valuable w3 polyunsaturated fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The results of indoor continuous growth of Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin are reported. The relationships between dilution rate (D), nitrate concentration and chemical composition were studied. Higher biomass and lipid productivities were obtained at low D values. EPA was found to be an intermediate metabolite and the best productivity (6 mg 1-r day-r) was achieved for D values ranging from 0.32 to 0.50 day-'. Under optimum conditions, 84 and 1170, respectively, of total recovered EPA were present in monogalactosyldia~lglycerol (MGDG) and in triacylglycerol (TG) moieties, respectively. Recorded EPAI! and EPA/20,4 03 ratios for all tested dilution rates were among the highest values ever reported, showing EPA purification to be easier to perform from this starting material than from many others commonly in use.
One of the main challenges for the successful production and use of microalgae for biodiesel production is to obtain a satisfactory level of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). The aims of this study are to identify the best method of lipid extraction and provide high FAME levels and to evaluate their fatty acid profiles. Six lipid extraction methodologies in three microalgae species were tested in comparison with the direct transesterification (DT) of microalgal biomass method. The choice of extraction method affected both the oily extract yield and the FAME composition of the microalgae and consequently may affect the properties of biodiesel. The efficiency of different lipid extraction methods is affected by the solvent polarity, which extracts different target compounds from lipid matrix. Dichloromethane/methanol extraction and Folch extraction produced the largest oil extract yields, but extraction with hexane/ethanol resulted in the best ester profile and levels. Performing DT reduces the volume of extractor solvent, the time and cost of FA composition analysis, as well as, presents less steps for fatty acid quantification. DT provided biomass FAME levels of 50.2, 636.4, and 258.2 mg.g−1 in Nannochlorophisis oculata, Chaetoceros muelleri, and Chlorella sp., respectively. On the basis of an analysis of the fatty acids profiles of different species, C. muelleri is a promising microalga for biodiesel production. Depending on the extraction method, Chlorella sp. and N. oculata can be considered as an alternative in obtaining arachidonic (Aa) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids.
Microalgae as an Oil Producer for Biofuel Applications
Microalgae are more promising feed stocks to their widespread availability and higher oil yields. As with any biological lipid, this is a potential feedstock for making the renewable fuel biodiesel. However, extracting and purifying oil from algae continues to prove a significant challenge in producing both microalgae byproducts and biofuel, as microbial oil extraction is relatively energy-intensive and costly. The aim of the research work is to produce biodiesel from micro algal species. Chaetoceros sp were identified for the research work and studied for their lipid, carbohydrate and protein content. The main aim of the project is to make use of the algae present in the water bodies and to extract the useful algal oil meant for biodiesel production to meet the challenges of fuel requirement in the present scenario. Microalgal oil was extracted from Chaetoceros sp. and the physicochemical properties were determined. The density, viscosity, acid value, saponification value and free fatty acids were recorded as 1.305gm/ml, 6.2mm 2 /s, 2.5339mg/gm of oil, 173.56mg/gm of oil, and 0.71gm/100 gm of algae (Oleic acid). The fatty acid profile showed pentadecanoic acid (17.56%), 1.Nonadecenoic acid (20.1%), methyl palmitate (2.91%), methyl linoleate (12.07%), palmitic acid (1.97%) as major fatty acids.
Chemical engineering transactions, 2019
Microalgal biomass has been considered a potential source of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates for different industrial applications. Usually, molecules with a possibility of use in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industry are added-value products that can make microalgae large-scale production economically viable. Examples of molecules present in microalgae biomass are triglycerides rich in Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) widely studied due to the benefits to human health, including prevention of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Some marine microalgae such as Isochrysis sp., Nannochloropsis sp. and diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum are known to exhibit high quantities of long-chain PUFA such as Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA). In addition, some species show a high content of Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFAs) on lipids, as Botryococcus braunii, which usually contains more than 50% of oleic acid. Other high-value molecules from microalgae bio...
Potential Production of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids from Microalgae
2016
Abstract- Currently, public awareness of healthcare importance increase. Polyunsaturated fatty acid is an essential nutrition for us, such arachidonic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. The need of Polyunsaturated fatty acid generally derived from fish oil, but fish oil has a high risk chemical contamination. Microalgae are single cell microorganism, one of Phaeodactylum tricornutum which have relatively high content of eicosapentaenoic acid (29,8%). Biotechnology market of Polyunsaturated fatty acid is very promising for both foods and feeds, because the availability of abundant raw materials and suitable to develop in the tropics. This literature review discusses about the content of Polyunsaturated fatty acid in microalgae, omega-3, omega-6, Polyunsaturated fatty acid production processes, and applications in public health.
Microorganisms, 2019
Microbial oils have been considered a renewable feedstock for bioenergy not competing with food crops for arable land, freshwater and biodiverse natural landscapes. Microalgal oils may also have other purposes (niche markets) besides biofuels production such as pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic and food industries. The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) obtained from oleaginous microalgae show benefits over other PUFAs sources such as fish oils, being odorless, and non-dependent on fish stocks. Heterotrophic microalgae can use low-cost substrates such as organic wastes/residues containing carbon, simultaneously producing PUFAs together with other lipids that can be further converted into bioenergy, for combined heat and power (CHP), or liquid biofuels, to be integrated in the transportation system. This review analyses the different strategies that have been recently used to cultivate and further process heterotrophic microalgae for lipids, with emphasis on omega-3 rich compo...
Microalgae as source of polyunsaturated fatty acids for aquaculture
2005
The therapeutic significance of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) especially docosahexaenic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (AA) has been demonstrated by recent clinical and epidemiological studies. Fish oils are the major commercial source of long chained ω3 PUFA. Global production of farmed fish and shell fish has more than doubled in the past two decades, trends toward intensification and greater control over nutritional input resulting in increased demand for wild fish for feed. Feed is the largest production cost for commercial aquaculture (e.g. most farming of salmon, other marine finfish, and shrimp), and thus improving feed efficiency in industrial systems is already a priority. Moreover, fishmeal prices have risen in real terms in the past three decades and are likely to increase further with continued growth in demand. The possible decline of commercial fish stocks calls for research in alternative sources of PUFA. Considerable evidence has indicated that ω3 fatty acids in fish oils actually derive from zooplankton that consumes algae. Further the microalgae may have superior lipid stability compared to traditional PUFA because they are naturally rich in antioxidant carotenoids and vitamins and because lipids are microencapsulated by the algae cell wall.