Extraction of carotenoids and lipids from algae by supercritical CO2 and subcritical dimethyl ether

•Extraction process from wet materials using liquefied dimethyl ether was developed.•Lipid and carotenoids were extracted effectively from wet algae without grinding cell.•Supercritical carbon dioxide was used to extract useful components from algae.

Algae contain lipids and functional compounds such as carotenoids. Especially, microalgae are recently focused as a source of biofuel. To extract these components, organic solvent or supercritical carbon dioxide have been used. We have been developing wet extraction process using liquefied (subcritical) dimethyl ether (DME) as solvent at around 0.59 MPa. The extraction process usually requires energy consuming drying and grinding process as in the case of supercritical CO2. We have applied liquefied DME for the extraction of lipids and functional compounds from various kinds of algae. Since the liquefied DME extraction process can eliminate the process for drying, cell disruption, and solvent evaporation, it can realize simpler and low energy consumption system. In this paper, our studies on the extraction from algae by using supercritical CO2 or subcritical DME are reviewed.

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