Progress of non-destructive hydrocarbon extraction technology of Botryococcus braunii

Ennaceri, Houda; Nwoba, Emeka G.; Ogbonna, Chukwuka Uzoamaka; Bahri, Parisa A.; Moheimani, Navid R.

doi:10.1016/j.algal.2023.103156

Cited by 15 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 113 publications

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“…Hexane is a suitable extraction solvent due to its low boiling point (69 °C), low cost, and high extraction efficiency (Jackson et al ., 2017; Ennaceri et al ., 2023). Using hexane facilitates solvent separation from the botryococcenes by distillation, as they have boiling points well above hexane (> 300 °C; Jackson et al ., 2017).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This trait makes it a candidate for non-destructive in situ extraction, ‘milking’, of lipophilic compounds. Milking is a promising approach to improve the cost- and energy-requirements associated with algal biomass downstream processing: harvesting, dewatering and cell disruption (Jackson et al ., 2017; Kleinert and Griehl 2022; Ennaceri et al ., 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Extraction of hydrocarbons from B. braunii has mainly been tested with commonly used short-chain non-polar solvents, such as hexane (C6) and heptane (C7) (Jackson et al ., 2017; Ennaceri et al ., 2023). These petroleum-based solvents showed high botryococcene extraction efficiencies but low biocompatibility, resulting in rapid loss of cell viability after long contact times (Kleinert and Griehl, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Botryococcenes can be used to produce petroleum-equivalent fuels suitable for combustion engines (Jin et al ., 2016; Lozoya-Gloria et al ., 2019). In contrast to most other oleaginous microalgae, which accumulate oils within the cell, extracellular B. braunii hydrocarbons can be harvested without requiring cell lysis (Suzuki et al ., 2013; Ennaceri et al ., 2023). This trait makes it a suitable microalga for the process of non-destructive in situ extraction, termed ‘milking’, of lipophilic compounds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparison of alternative solvents forin situextraction of hydrocarbons from the colonial green algaBotryococcus brauniirace B (Showa)

Ozawa-Uyeda,

Overmans,

de Freitas

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Background: The colony-forming, green microalga Botryococcus braunii secretes large amounts of petroleum-like hydrocarbons, which enables non-destructive in situ extraction (milking) of these extracellular hydrocarbons during culture growth continuously without cell lysis. This study compares the suitability of 15 different solvents, including alkanes, halogens, and green solvents, for in situ extraction of B. braunii race B (Showa strain) hydrocarbons after acclimation to moderate salinity stress. Findings: After 24 h of extraction, bio-based terpene 'green' solvents such as gamma-terpinene showed the highest hydrocarbon extraction capacity, with GC peak areas of botryococcenes around 10-fold greater than with conventional alkane solvents. Brominated alkanes and liquid perfluorocarbons (FCs) formed a lower phase to algal cultures rather than an upper phase as with other solvents, but only bromodecane effectively captured extracellular hydrocarbons as is the case with conventional alkane solvents. However, bromodecane and all green solvents were too toxic for two-phase continuous culture contact hydrocarbon milking, leading to 33-100% chlorophyll content loss in algal cultures. Conclusions: To overcome the adverse effects of these promising solvents, future research should focus on their application in short-term extraction period-milking systems to minimize algal-solvent contact and enable continuous extraction.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Comparison of alternative solvents forin situextraction of hydrocarbons from the colonial green algaBotryococcus brauniirace B (Showa)

Ozawa-Uyeda,

Overmans,

de Freitas

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Our results provide a precedent for engineering algal communities with multiple synergies. Specifically, we propose that B. braunii could simultaneously function as a crop protection agent for fast-growing algae such as Nannochloropsis that can be harvested for higher-value products, while also producing extracellular hydrocarbons [15]. While we use Nannochloropsis as a focal 'fast-grower' we imagine that this principle could also apply to other small undefended taxa, e.g., Synechocystis that can be used for sustainable PHB bioplastic production [20] or other small strains of interest for feed or fuel.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Botryococcus brauniireduces algal grazing losses toDaphniaandPoterioochromonasthrough both chemical and physical interference

Thomas,

Arn,

Freiermuth

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Crop protection from algal grazers is a key area of concern, as grazing zooplankton and flagellates can decimate algal crops and impede economic viability of cultivation for biofuels and bioproducts. Inhibition of grazing by chemical and physical interference is one promising solution; however, there have been few empirical tests of this approach that use defense traits innate to algal crop species. Here we conduct an experiment to test whether the hydrocarbon excreting algaBotryococcus brauniican mitigate losses to grazing by two distinct grazers,Daphnia magnaandPoterioochromonas malhamensis, due to both chemical inhibition and physical interference linked to large/inedible colonies. We show that chemical and physical defenses interactively reduce the total effect of grazing, thus significantly increasing the biomass of cultures ofB. brauniiandNannochloropsis limneticawhen either grazer is present. Specifically,B. brauniifiltrate alone inhibits grazing and thus weakens top-down control ofN. limneticagrowth rates and final biomass by both grazers;B. brauniicolonies alone also inhibit biomass losses; and the combination of filtrate andB. brauniicolonies reveals an interactive effect of both chemical and physical defenses on grazing. Our study demonstrates how community engineering can identify synergies arising from algal cocultivation (e.g., by using industrially relevant strains for crop protection). Such ecological discoveries may help to reduce the costs of large-scale deployment of algal cultivation for sustainable foods, fuels, bioproducts (e.g., bioplastics), and carbon capture.

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Botryococcus braunii reduces algal grazing losses to Daphnia and Poterioochromonas through both chemical and physical interference

Thomas,

Arn,

Freiermuth

et al. 2024

J Appl Phycol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Crop protection from algal grazers is a key area of concern, as grazing zooplankton and flagellates can decimate microalgae crops and impede economic viability of cultivation for biofuels and bioproducts. Inhibition of grazing by chemical and physical interference is one promising solution; however, there have been few empirical tests of this approach that use defense traits innate to algal crop species. Botryococcus braunii is of particular interest because a) it excretes high levels of hydrocarbons and exopolysaccharides and b) forms colonies and possesses chemical defenses. Here we conduct a controlled laboratory experiment to test whether B. braunii can mitigate losses to grazing by two distinct grazers, Daphnia magna and Poterioochromonas malhamensis, due to both chemical inhibition and physical interference linked to large/inedible colonies. We show that chemical and physical defenses interactively reduce the total effect of grazing, thus significantly increasing the biomass and growth rates of cultures of B. braunii and Nannochloropsis limnetica when either grazer is present. We also find that B. braunii medium enhances the growth of N. limnetica. Our study demonstrates how community engineering can identify synergies arising from algal co-cultivation (e.g., by using industrially relevant strains for crop protection). While our lab study serves as a proof-of-concept, future research should test this strategy at pilot scale; if successful, such ecological discoveries may help to reduce the costs of large-scale deployment of algal cultivation for sustainable foods, fuels, bioproducts (e.g., bioplastics), and carbon capture.

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Progress of non-destructive hydrocarbon extraction technology of Botryococcus braunii

Cited by 15 publications

References 113 publications

Comparison of alternative solvents forin situextraction of hydrocarbons from the colonial green algaBotryococcus brauniirace B (Showa)

Comparison of alternative solvents forin situextraction of hydrocarbons from the colonial green algaBotryococcus brauniirace B (Showa)

Botryococcus brauniireduces algal grazing losses toDaphniaandPoterioochromonasthrough both chemical and physical interference

Botryococcus braunii reduces algal grazing losses to Daphnia and Poterioochromonas through both chemical and physical interference

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