Influence of Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) treatment on the extraction of lipids from the microalgae Auxenochlorella protothecoides

摘要

Microalgae are a promising source of lipids and biopolymers. In most cases algal lipids are stored intracellular. During the extraction of intracellular products from cells the cell wall and the cell membrane are natural barriers, preserving the cell content. Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) treatment results in the electroporation (EP) or the electropermeabilization of the cell membrane. The formation of pores across the membrane often leads to an enhanced extraction process since solvents can penetrate the biomass matrix more efficiently.