Enhancing the various solvent extraction method via microwave irradiation for extraction of lipids from marine microalgae in biodiesel production

• Solvent extraction methods Hara and Radin, Folch, Chen and Bligh and Dryer are used.
• The methods were modified by microwave irradiation for extraction of lipids.
• Microwave irradiation enhanced the lipid extraction for production of biodiesel.
• Microwave irradiated Hara and Radin show the highest lipid yield for Tetraselmis sp.
• Nannochloropsis sp. is best extracted using microwave irradiated Folch method.

The types of microalgae strains and the method used in lipid extraction have become crucial factors which influence the productivity of crude oil. In this paper, Nannochloropsis sp. and Tetraselmis sp. were chosen as the strains and four different methods were used to extract the lipids: Hara and Radin, Folch, Chen and Bligh and Dyer. These methods were performed by using conventional heating and microwave irradiation methods. Results revealed that highest lipid yield from the different species was obtained using different extraction methods; both under microwave irradiation. The lipid yield for Tetraselmis sp. and Nannochloropsis sp. was highest when Hara and Radin (8.19%), and Folch (8.47%) methods were used respectively under microwave irradiation. The lipids extracted were then transesterified to biodiesel and the quality of the biodiesel was analyzed using the gas chromatography.

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