Roberto Medici

Federico Capuano

Edoardo D'Angeli

Ezio Nicola D'Addario

Roberta Miglio

Felicia Massetti

Process for the extraction of lipids and sugars from algal biomass, which comprises: &#x2014;producing an aqueous suspension of algal biomass; &#x2014;bringing the pH of said aqueous suspension of algal biomass to a value higher than or equal to 10, preferably ranging from 10.2 to 12, obtaining an aqueous suspension of algal biomass at basic pH; &#x2014;adding at least one anionic flocculant to said aqueous suspension of algal biomass at basic pH obtaining a concentrated algal biomass; &#x2014;recovering said concentrated algal biomass; &#x2014;subjecting said concentrated algal biomass to extraction of the lipids obtaining: (i) an organic phase comprising lipids; (ii) a semi-solid phase comprising a residue of said algal biomass; &#x2014;subjecting said semi-solid phase (ii) to hydrolysis obtaining sugars. The lipids thus obtained can be advantageously used in the production of biodiesel or green diesel which can be used as such, or in a mixture with other fuels for motor vehicles. The sugars thus obtained can be advantageously used as carbon sources in fermentation processes for the production of lipids and also for the production of alcohols (e.g., ethanol, butanol). Said alcohols can be advantageously used as biofuels for motor vehicles or as components that can be added to fuels for motor vehicles.

Process for the extraction of lipids and sugars from algal biomass

A process for the extraction of lipids from algal biomass comprising: &#x2014;producing an aqueous suspension of algal biomass; &#x2014;adding to said aqueous suspension of algal biomass at least one organic solvent immiscible or substantially immiscible with water obtaining an organic-aqueous mixture; &#x2014;subjecting said organic-aqueous mixture to evaporation of water and lipid extraction, operating at a temperature such to obtain the substantial complete removal of the water from said organic-aqueous mixture, obtaining: (i) an organic phase comprising lipids and said organic solvent; (ii) a semi-solid phase comprising a residue of said algal biomass.

Process for the extraction of lipids from algal biomass

Process for the extraction of fatty acids from algal biomass comprising: producing an aqueous suspension of algal biomass; subjecting the aqueous suspension of algal biomass to acid hydrolysis and extraction by the addition of at least one non-polar organic solvent and at least one inorganic acid to said aqueous suspension of algal biomass, so as to obtain the following three phases: (i) a semisolid phase comprising a slurry of the algal biomass; (ii) an aqueous phase comprising inorganic compounds and hydrophilic organic compounds; (iii) an organic phase comprising fatty acids and hydrophobic organic compounds other than said fatty acids.

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Monterotondo, Italy

Roberto Medici