title: Microalgae fractionation using steam explosion, dynamic and tangential cross-flow membrane filtration.
abstract: In this study, the microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana was subjected to acid catalysed steam explosion treatment and the resulting exploded material was subsequently fractionated to separate the different fractions (lipids, sugars and solids). Conventional and vibrational membrane setups were used with several polymeric commercial membranes. Two different routes were followed: 1) filtration+lipid solvent extraction and 2) lipid solvent extraction+filtration. Route 1 revealed to be much better since the used membrane for filtration was able to permeate the sugar aqueous phase and retained the fraction containing lipids; after this, an extraction required a much lower amount of solvent and a better recovering yield. Filtration allowed complete lipid rejection. Dynamic filtration improved permeability compared to the tangential cross-flow filtration. Best membrane performance was achieved using a 5000Da membrane with the dynamic system, obtaining a permeability of 6L/h/m2/bar.
authors.affiliation: Catalonia Institute for Energy Research, IREC, Marcel·lí Domingo 2, 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lorente
authors.affiliation: Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hapońska
authors.affiliation: Catalonia Institute for Energy Research, IREC, Marcel·lí Domingo 2, 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Clavero
authors.affiliation: Catalonia Institute for Energy Research, IREC, Marcel·lí Domingo 2, 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain. Electronic address: ctorras@irec.cat.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torras
authors.affiliation: Catalonia Institute for Energy Research, IREC, Marcel·lí Domingo 2, 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain; Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salvadó
mesh_terms: D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D005107:Explosions; D005374:Filtration; D058086:Microalgae; D013227:Steam
chemical_list: D013227:Steam
keywords: Cell disruption; Dynamic membrane filtration; Fractionation; Microalgae; Steam explosion