Wet Extraction of Lipids and Astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis by Liquefied Dimethyl Ether

Abstract

Recently, a simple method for the extraction of lipids from wet cyanobacterial microalgae using liquefied dimethyl ether (DME) without drying, cell disruption, or heating was proposed. Herein, the versatility of this method was evaluated using Haematococcus pluvialis at 0.59 MPa and 25°C. Direct extraction of lipids from H. pluvialis of moisture-rich microalgae was successfully achieved, in a lipid extraction yield of 30.0% of the dry weight of the microalgae. The astaxanthin concentration in the extracted lipid was 0.33%, which was lower than the 1.82% achieved by the commonly-used acetone extraction, which incorporates drying and cell disruption. The carbon and hydrogen content were improved after DME extraction. In addition, 92% of water in the wet H. pluvialis was removed. Compared with other extractions, liquefied DME combines drying, cell description, and solvent extraction into one step.