I'm trying to extract antibacterial compounds from Scenedesmus species. However, most extraction methods need air dried sample, but my university does not have this equipment. Moreover, i have very less sample to use multiple extraction solvents. Which would an ideal method? please help me out
There are several methods of extracting oil from algae, but the simplest and most popular one is the oil press method1. This method is similar to the concept of the olive press. It can extract up to 75 percent of the oil from the algae being pressed1. Another method that can extract up to 95 percent of oil from algae is the hexane solvent method, which combines pressing the algae with a chemical solvent1. However, this method may have some environmental and safety issues due to the use of hexane2. A more eco-friendly and efficient method is the supercritical fluid method, which uses carbon dioxide as a solvent under high pressure and temperature to extract oil from algae2. This method can also extract other valuable compounds from algae, such as proteins and pigments2.
Some references for more information on the extraction methods for algae are:
- Recent progress in extraction/transesterification techniques for the recovery of oil from algae biomass, a review article that discusses various techniques and their advantages and disadvantages.
- Lipid Extraction Methods from Microalgae: A Comprehensive Review, a review article that covers the principles and methods of lipid extraction from microalgae.
- Algae Biodiesel Engineering: Extracting Oil from Algae, a web page that explains some common methods of oil extraction from algae.
- Extraction Techniques, Biological Activities and Health Benefits of Algae, a review article that summarizes different extraction techniques for algae and their applications.
Learn more:
1. science.howstuffworks.com2. link.springer.com3. link.springer.com4. frontiersin.org5. science.howstuffworks.com6. frontiersin.org7. doi.org
Good luck