Autor(es):
Cunha, Pedro ; Carvalho, Bernardo ; Kholany, Mariam ; Cardoso, Helena ; Pereira, Hugo ; Varela, João
Data: 2026
Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/29247
Origem: Sapientia - Universidade do Algarve
Projeto/bolsa:
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/UIDB/04326/2020/PT;
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/LA/P/0101/2020/PT;
Assunto(s): Microalgae; Multi-product fractionation; Mild processing; Process integration; High-pressure homogenization; Membrane filtration; Ethanolic extraction
Descrição
Multi-product biorefineries, which transform biomass feedstocks into multiple valuable bio-based products, are pivotal for transitioning from a fossil-based economy to a sustainable circular bioeconomy. This work proposes a processing pipeline for fractionating the macrocomponents of Nannochloropsis oceanica, which can serve as a basis for multi-product microalgae biorefineries. It consists of high-pressure homogenization (1200 bar, 1 cycle) to permeabilize the cells, and sequential membrane processing (0.2 µm dia-microfiltration followed by 100 kDa ultrafiltration) and ethanolic extraction (60 mL ethanol/g dry weight, 1 h) to fractionate the disrupted biomass. This biorefinery resulted in four final fractions: (1) enriched in water-soluble proteins (39.0 ± 2.8% w/w proteins; 10.7 ± 0.8% w/w carbohydrates); (2) remaining soluble components (5.7 ± 0.4% w/w proteins; 4.3 ± 0.9% w/w carbohydrates); (3) lipid-rich extract (62.4 ± 5.8% w/w lipids); and (4) non-extracted components (11.8 ± 4.5% w/w lipids), with mass recovery yields of 23.2 ± 2.1%, 6.9 ± 1.0%, 10.6 ± 1.9%, and 60.4 ± 4.1%, respectively. The ultrafiltration protein selectivity was not optimal, despite yielding a 2.6 times more concentrated fraction. Lipid extraction yield (35–60%) and purity (56–68%) were highly affected by the water content of the microfiltration retentate. Overall, 10.0 ± 0.9% of the proteins, 9.7 ± 1.8% of the carbohydrates, and 42.4 ± 13.4% of the lipids of N. oceanica were recovered in fractions 1, 2, and 3, respectively.