title: A new mechanism for efficient hydrocarbon electro-extraction fromBotryococcus braunii.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent understanding that specific algae have high hydrocarbon production potential has attracted considerable attention.Botryococcus brauniiis a microalga with an extracellular hydrocarbon matrix, which makes it an appropriate green energy source.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study focuses on extracting oil from the microalgae matrix rather than the cells, eliminating the need for an excessive electric field to create electro-permeabilization. In such a way, technical limitations due to high extraction energy and cost can be overcome. Here, nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) with 80 ns duration and 20-65 kV/cm electric fields were applied. To understand the extraction mechanism, the structure of the algae was accurately studied under fluorescence microscope; extraction was quantified using image analysis; quality of extraction was examined by thin-layer chromatography (TLC); and the cell/matrix separation was observed real-time under a microscope during nsPEF application. Furthermore, optimization was carried out by screening values of electric fields, pulse repetition frequencies, and energy spent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results offer a novel method applicable for fast and continues hydrocarbon extraction process at low energy cost.
authors.affiliation: Bioelectrics Department, Institute of Pulsed Power Science, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Kumamoto, 860-8555 Japan.
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guionet
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Bahareh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology, University Paul Sabatier, 205 Route de Narbonne, 31077 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Teissié
authors.affiliation: Bioelectrics Department, Institute of Pulsed Power Science, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Kumamoto, 860-8555 Japan.|Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.affiliation: Bioelectrics Department, Institute of Pulsed Power Science, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Kumamoto, 860-8555 Japan.|Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hosseini
keywords: Biofuel; Botryococcus braunii kützing; Extraction; Green energy; Hydrocarbon; Nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF)