Selective extraction of intracellular components from the microalga Chlorella vulgaris by combined pulsed electric field-temperature treatment

P R Postma; G Pataro; M Capitoli; M J Barbosa; R H Wijffels; M H M Eppink; G Olivieri; G Ferrari

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2015.12.012

Selective extraction of intracellular components from the microalga Chlorella vulgaris by combined pulsed electric field-temperature treatment

Bioresour Technol. 2016 Mar:203:80-8. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.12.012. Epub 2015 Dec 15.

Authors

P R Postma¹, G Pataro², M Capitoli³, M J Barbosa⁴, R H Wijffels⁵, M H M Eppink⁶, G Olivieri⁶, G Ferrari⁷

Affiliations

¹ Bioprocess Engineering, AlgaePARC, Wageningen University, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II 132, Fisciano, SA, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ ProdAl Scarl - University of Salerno, via Ponte don Melillo, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy.
⁴ Food & Biobased Reseach, AlgaePARC, Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
⁵ Bioprocess Engineering, AlgaePARC, Wageningen University, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands; University of Nordland, Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, N-8049 Bodø, Norway.
⁶ Bioprocess Engineering, AlgaePARC, Wageningen University, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
⁷ Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II 132, Fisciano, SA, Italy; ProdAl Scarl - University of Salerno, via Ponte don Melillo, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy.

PMID: 26722806
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.12.012

Abstract

The synergistic effect of temperature (25-65 °C) and total specific energy input (0.55-1.11 kWh kgDW(-1)) by pulsed electric field (PEF) on the release of intracellular components from the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris was studied. The combination of PEF with temperatures from 25 to 55 °C resulted in a conductivity increase of 75% as a result of cell membrane permeabilization. In this range of temperatures, 25-39% carbohydrates and 3-5% proteins release occurred and only for carbohydrate release a synergistic effect was observed at 55 °C. Above 55 °C spontaneous cell lysis occurred without PEF. Combined PEF-temperature treatment does not sufficiently disintegrate the algal cells to release both carbohydrates and proteins at yields comparable to the benchmark bead milling (40-45% protein, 48-58% carbohydrates).

Keywords: Bead mill; Microalgae; Mild cascade biorefinery; Pulsed electric field; Temperature.

Publication types

Evaluation Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Algal Proteins / analysis
Carbohydrates / analysis
Cell Membrane
Chemical Fractionation / methods*
Chlorella vulgaris / chemistry*
Chlorella vulgaris / enzymology
Electricity
Electrochemical Techniques*
Microalgae / chemistry*
Microalgae / enzymology
Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase / metabolism
Temperature

Substances

Algal Proteins
Carbohydrates
Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase