Extraction of lipid from microalgae
Student name: Ms Pallavi Chaudhary
Guide: Dr Priyanka Kaushal
Year of completion: 2013
Host Organisation: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Dr Alok Adholeya
Abstract: Sustainability is a key principle in natural resource management, and it involves operational
efficiency, minimisation of environmental impact and socio-economic considerations; all of which are
interdependent. It has become increasingly obvious that continued reliance on fossil fuel energy
resources is unsustainable, owing to both depleting world reserves and the greenhouse gas emissions
associated with their use. Therefore, there are vigorous research initiatives aimed at developing
alternative renewable and potentially carbon neutral solid, liquid and gaseous biofuels as alternative
energy resources. However, alternate energy resources akin to first generation biofuels derived from
terrestrial crops such as sugarcane, sugar beet, maize and rapeseed place an enormous strain on world
food markets, contribute to water shortages and precipitate the destruction of the world’s forests.
Second generation biofuels derived from lignocellulosic agriculture and forest residues and from nonfood
crop feedstocks address some of the above problems; however there is concern over competing
land use or required land use changes. Therefore, based on current knowledge and technology
projections, third generation biofuels specifically derived from microalgae are considered to be a
technically viable alternative energy resource that is devoid of the major drawbacks associated with
first and second generation biofuels. Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms with simple
growing requirements (light, sugars, CO, N, P, and K) that can produce lipids, proteins and
carbohydrates in large amounts over short periods of time. These products can be processed into both
biofuels and valuable co-products.
The study reviewed the technologies underpinning microalgae-to-biofuels systems, focusing on the
biomass production, harvesting, conversion technologies, and the extraction of lipids. It was found
that, whereas there are outstanding issues related to photosynthetic efficiencies and biomass output,
microalgae-derived biofuels could progressively substitute a significant proportion of the fossil fuels
required to meet the growing energy demand.
Keywords: Biofuels, Microalgae, Energy Demand, lipid extraction, Biomass, Emissions
