Decide what type of algae you will grow. Choose a species with high levels of chlorophyll and a high percentage of oil yields. Most algae used for oil production already possess these qualities, since they are the most powerful and practical algae for this purpose. Your growing environment and chosen method will also be deciding factors in the strain of algae you choose. Some algae grow well in hot, shallow ponds, called photobioreactors, which work well in the heat of the desert. Other algae, like cryophytic algae, grow in cold, icy conditions. Cultivate the algae in your chosen aerial, aquatic or marine device, depending on the location. It is possible to cultivate algae in almost any environment. You can even extract algae for oil from sewage using a sewage treatment facility. Harvest up to 90 percent of the algae with each harvest. Algae duplicate every 24 hours, so your crop will be ready to harvest again soon. The waste liquor that comes as a byproduct of the harvesting process can be processed further to recover valuable material. Extract the oil from the algae through one of the many available extraction processes. Use enzymes as a solvent through enzymatic extraction; utilize an ultrasonic reactor to break down the cell walls, or extract the oil through osmosis, using osmotic shock. Most methods of extraction are expensive and require advanced machinery. Distill the extracted oil to remove any bits of useable algae. The final product is triglyceride, which must be put through a biodiesel processor to make biodiesel; or use it directly in most diesel engines. The byproduct is leftover algae proteins. Through extrusion and dewatering processes, you can extract these healthy proteins to be used as healthy ingredients in animal and human foods.Algae Oil ExtractionOil extraction from algae is a hotly debated topic currently because this process is one of the more costly processes which can determine the sustainability of algae-based biodiesel.In terms of the concept, the idea is quite simple: Harvest the algae from its growth medium (using an appropriate separation process), and extract the oil out of it. Extraction can be broadly categorized into two methods:1. Mechanical methodsThe mechanical methods are further classified into: Expression/Expeller press Ultrasonic-assisted extraction1. Chemical methodsThe chemical methods are further classified into: Hexane Solvent Method Soxhlet extraction Supercritical fluid ExtractionEach of these methods has drawbacks:1. The mechanical press generally requires drying the algae, which is energy intensive2. The use of chemical solvents present safety and health issues3. Supercritical extraction requires high pressure equipment that is both expensive and energy intensive.Many manufacturers of algae oil use a combination of mechanical pressing and chemical solvents in extracting oil.Apart from these, there are some other methods which are not well-known. This includes the following:Enzymatic extraction- Enzymatic extraction uses enzymes to degrade the cell walls with water acting as the solvent, this makes fractionation of the oil much easier. The costs of this extraction process are estimated to be much greater than hexane extraction.Osmotic shock- Osmotic Shock is a sudden reduction in osmotic pressure, this can cause cells in a solution to rupture. Osmotic shock is sometimes used to release cellular components, such as oil.CHALLENGES IN OIL EXTRACTION FROM ALGAE: Microscopic algae suspended in water are virtually indestructible Cell wall has a high elasticity modulus Even when free water has been removed, wet biomass retains sufficient interstitial water to act as lubricant Rupture of cell wall through mechanical friction and steam explosion is only possible when dryBREAKTHROUGHS IN OIL EXTRACTION FROM ALGAE:1. a.Single-Step Extraction:The OriginOils algae Single-Step oil extraction process is simpler and more efficient than current systems, without requiring chemicals or significant capital expenditure for heavy machinery.

The Single Step Process harvests, concentrates and extracts oil from algae, and separates oil, water and biomass in one step. The process does not use chemicals or heavy machinery and no initial dewatering is required, and separates the oil, water and biomass in less than an hour. The companys Quantum Fracturing technology combines with electromagnetic pulses and pH modification to break down cell walls and release oil from the algae cells.

OriginOils Single-Step Algal Oil Extraction1. b. Continuous algal oil extraction system:Cavitation Technologies Inc. (CTI) has developed a technology that is able to extract oil from algae on a continuous basis utilizing cavitation based extraction. CTIs Nano reactor is used to create cavitation bubbles in a solvent material, when these bubbles collapse near the cell walls it creates shock waves and liquid jets that cause those cells walls to break and release their contents into the solvent. The company plans to license the technology to algal fuel developers.1. c. Extraction using nanotechnology:Catilin and Iowa State University - Center for Catalysis (ISU-CCAT), members of the National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts (NAABB), will build on their pioneering algal oil extraction technology using mesoporous nanoparticles to selectively extract and sequester targeted fuel-relevant and high value compounds within the algal lipid mixture. The balance of the algal oil, which contains free fatty acids (FFA) and triglycerides, will be converted to biodiesel using Catilin's commercially available T300 catalyst. This technology is efficient and solid catalyst provides a cost effective conversion route.Oil extraction from Algae - A gist from the Oilgae Comprehensive ReportIn the Comprehensive Oilgae Report, Oil extraction from algae deals with some of the key concepts like current methods of oil extraction, trends and developments in Algae oil extraction, Efforts and solutions, Challenges.Oil extraction from algae employs the use of different methods which presents its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore the prime focus is to overcome these challenges which is an important phenomenon in the production of Biofuel from algae. Determining the Most Efficient and Cost Effective Extraction Method - The challenge here is that higher the efficiency of the extraction method, the higher is its cost. Reducing the Energy Requirements for Extraction - Algae oil extraction is quite energy intensive and this is an important challenge to be recognized and addressed. Efforts: Origin Oils invention of a method to extract the oil from algae with high energy efficiency that builds on the companys first patent, Quantum Fracturing, in which ultrasound from intense fluid fracturing breaks down algae cells and reduces the overall energy required for extraction. High Cell Wall Elasticity - Cell wall and membrane have high elasticity modulus, hence extraction methods need to overcome these.Efforts: A method of intense sonication of liquids can break the cell structure mechanically and improve material transfer. This effect supports the extraction of lipids from algae. Insterstitial Water Decreased Extraction Effectiveness - Even when free water has been removed, wet biomass retains sufficient interstitial water to act as lubricant, thus decreasing the effectiveness of extraction, especially with cost-effective methods such as the expeller press.Efforts: Some efforts are working towards direct fermentation of still-wet algae, thereby overcoming the problem of oil extractionExtraction of Algal Oil by Mechanical MethodsMechanical methods includes Expression/Expeller press Ultrasonic-assisted extraction

The simplest method is mechanical crushing. Since different strains of algae vary widely in their physical attributes, various press configurations (screw, expeller, piston, etc) work better for specific algae types. Often, mechanical crushing is used in conjunction with chemicals.Expression/Expeller press:Algae is dried it retains its oil content, which then can be "pressed" out with an oil press. Since different strains of algae vary widely in their physical attributes, various press configurations (screw, expeller, piston, etc) work better for specific algae types. Many commercial manufacturers of vegetable oil use a combination of mechanical pressing and chemical solvents in extracting oil.

Ultrasonic-assisted Extraction:Ultrasonic extraction, a branch of sonochemistry, can greatly accelerate extraction processes. Using an ultrasonic reactor, ultrasonic waves are used to create cavitation bubbles in a solvent material, when these bubbles collapse near the cell walls, it creates shock waves and liquid jets that causes those cells walls to break and release their contents into the solvent.Extraction of Algal Oil by Chemical MethodsAlgal oil can be extracted using chemicals. Benzene and ether have been used, oil can also be separated by hexane extraction, which is widely used in the food industry and is relatively inexpensive. The downside to using solvents for oil extraction are the dangers involved in working with the chemicals. Care must be taken to avoid exposure to vapors and direct contact with the skin, either of which can cause serious damage. Benzene is classified as a carcinogen. Chemical solvents also present the problem of being an explosion hazard.Chemical methods include: Hexane Solvent Method Soxhlet extraction Supercritical fluid ExtractionHexane Solvent MethodAlgal oil can be extracted using chemicals. Benzene and ether have been used, but a popular chemical for solvent extraction is hexane, which is relatively inexpensive. The downside to using solvents for oil extraction are the inherent dangers involved in working with the chemicals. Benzene is classified as a carcinogen. Chemical solvents also present the problem of being an explosion hazard.

Hexane solvent extraction can be used in isolation or it can be used along with the oil press/expeller method. After the oil has been extracted using an expeller, the remaining pulp can be mixed with cyclo-hexane to extract the remaining oil content. The oil dissolves in the cyclohexane, and the pulp is filtered out from the solution. The oil and cyclohexane are separated by means of distillation. These two stages (cold press & hexane solvent) together will be able to derived more than 95% of the total oil present in the algae.Soxhlet ExtractionSoxhlet extraction is an extraction method that uses chemical solvents. Oils from the algae are extracted through repeated washing, or percolation, with an organic solvent such as hexane or petroleum ether, under reflux in a special glassware.Supercritical Fluid ExtractionIn supercritical fluid/CO2extraction, CO2is liquefied under pressure and heated to the point that it has the properties of both a liquid and a gas, this liquified fluid then acts as the solvent in extracting the oil.- See more at: http://www.oilgae.com/algae/oil/extract/che/che.html#sthash.LHiX00Pb.dpufMicroalgal Oil Extraction and in-Situ TransesterificationFebruary 17th, 2007|3 Comments|Posted inAlgae Oil ExtractionHigh oil species of microalgae cultured in growth optimized conditions of photobioreactors have the potential to yield 5,000 15,000 gallons of microalgal oil per acre per year. As with any biological lipid, this is a potential feedstock for making the renewable fuel biodiesel. Photobioreactors have the ability to produce algae while performing beneficial tasks, such as scrubbing power plant flue gases or removing nutrients from wastewater. By coupling algae production with a waste treatment or pollution control process, as is already being done by some companies, the economic viability of microalgal biodiesel is significantly improved. In using microalgal oil to make biodiesel, the extraction of oil from cells is an important but costly step, which often involves toxic solvents. The method of Bligh & Dyer (1959) is a laboratory-scale technique which uses polar and non-polar solvents to extract the corresponding lipid fractions from cells. The drawbacks of using solvent extraction are that it requires extra energy input to recover the solvents, and it has the potential to contaminate the algae solids, thereby restricting options for their end use. The goal of this research is to improve the process economics of producing biodiesel from microalgal oil by making oil extraction simpler and less expensive. This is proposed by relying on only physical oil extraction, or by combining extraction with in-situ transesterification. The project will utilize six strains of high-oil algae already acquired from the SERI-NREL microalgae culture collection at the University of Hawaii. These include two Nannochloropsis sp. strains, Dunaliella tertiolecta, Dunaliella salina, Chlorella salina, and Chlorella sp. These will be screened to determine the species producing the most oil under both nitrogen sufficient and nitrogen limiting conditions. The specific growth conditions are not the focus of this project, and the purpose of screening is to ensure that a reasonable amount of oil be available for extraction (20-50% of the dry mass). Screening for the relative oil contents will be done with a Varian SF330 Spectrofluorometer by the method of Cooksey et. al. (1987) on cell cultures that have been diluted to equal concentrations, as checked with a Bausch & Lomb Spectronic 20 Spectrophotometer. Solvent extraction will be examined by separating algae samples from solution by vacuum filtration with a Buchner funnel and cellulose fiber filters and then dried. Dried samples will be treated using the two-solvent oil extraction technique of Bligh & Dyer (1959) and the improved method developed by Ennsani (1990). The lipid fractions yielded by these methods will be considered the base-line oil content of the cells, which the other extraction techniques will be compared to. To examine alternative extraction techniques, algae samples in their aqueous growth medium will be homogenized with a Sonicel 100 ultrasonic cell disrupter and centrifuged to determine if oil separation will take place without solvent. In-situ transesterification will be examined by adding dried algae samples to a methanol/potassium hydroxide solution and then ultrasonicating them. These will sit to allow the transesterification reaction time to take place, and then be centrifuged to separate the biodiesel from the excess methanol, cell solids, and the byproduct glycerin. After separation, analysis with a Hewlett-Packard Gas Chromatograph Model HP 5890 equipped with a Flame Ionization Detector will be used to determine total and free glycerine. This will be a way to assess if biodiesel has been made. Biodiesel yield from the in-situ transesterification method will be compared to those from the solvent extraction and the ultrasonic disruption/centrifugal extraction techniques.- See more at: http://www.oilgae.com/blog/2007/02/microalgal-oil-extraction-and-in-situ.html#sthash.TseV4nzE.dpufProfessor David Brune,Clemson University uses Brine Shrimp for algae oil extractionDecember 3rd, 2008|0 Comments|Posted inAlgae Oil Extraction,Algae-Fuel-Research

You are at:Oilgae Blog.Professor David Brune and students from Clemson University (CU) are working on extracting oils from algae to convert into biodiesel.They proposed a novel method which uses Brine Shrimp to Extract oil from algae.Brune said, The first step in extracting oils from algae starts with the growing of algae at a very high rate. CU uses a paddle wheel-driven system that is used to push the water around in a certain path, which ultimately, increases the aqua growth rate immensely.Then, the brine shrimp are introduced to start harvesting the algae and easy-to-extract oils are then retrievable.Trials completed in the designated ponds at CU have shown that brine shrimp, which feed on micro algae, can produce up to 500 gallons of biodiesel per acre per year with little environmental waste.- See more at: http://www.oilgae.com/blog/2008/12/professor-david-bruneclemson-university-uses-brine-shrimp-for-algae-oil-extraction.html#sthash.4i62ox5p.dpufOriginOil Files Patent for Breakthrough Algae Oil Extraction TechniqueJune 18th, 2008|0 Comments|Posted inAlgae Oil Extraction,Algae-Cultivation,Algae-HarvestingYou are at:Oilgae Blog. See thecomplete list of Oilgae Blog articles.Press releaseLOS ANGELES (Business Wire) OriginOil, Inc. , the developer of a breakthrough technology to transform algae, the most promising source of renewable oil, into a true competitor to petroleum, announced today the filing of its fourth patent application.The patent application, Lysing and Extraction System for Microorganisms, details OriginOils invention of a method to extract the oil from algae with high energy efficiency, without requiring the use of chemical solvents.The process of breaking down algae cells to release oil, known as lysing, has long represented a challenge for the algae-to-oil industry. Algae cell walls are difficult to break down. Mechanical methods are energy-intensive and often ineffective, and commonly-used chemical solvents such as benzene, ether or hexane are toxic and require special handling. Such practices increase operating costs and make it harder to site algae production systems.OriginOils latest invention builds on the companys first patent, Quantum Fracturing[TM], in which ultrasound from intense fluid fracturing breaks down algae cells much in the same way a high-frequency sound wave breaks glass. In the new patent filing, the flowing algae biomass is first sent through a shielded wave guide system where it receives low-wattage, frequency-tuned microwave bursts, breaking the cell walls. Quantum Fracturing is then applied to these pre-cracked cells to complete the oil extraction. The result is a system that makes low-energy and environmentally-safe algae oil production a reality.- See more at: http://www.oilgae.com/blog/2008/06/originoil-files-patent-for-breakthrough.html#sthash.pZrdqDSr.dpuf