Algae oils constitute promising and sustainable alternatives to fish oil for omega-3 fatty acids, and have applications ranging from foods and medicine to fuel and cosmetics. Among identified problems preventing a real take-off in algae oil production is the lack of efficient and mild extraction techniques that preserve the valuable fatty acids in the algal oil. For the Synthetic Genomics (SGI) Internship/ MQP project, a solvent extraction technique was tested, based on SGI analytical methods. The extraction efficiency of different solvents on varied microalgae strains was analyzed. Total lipid recovered by each solvent for each strain was determined. A fatty acid profile was characterized and an initial pond lay-out for one selected species was designed.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Brock, Courtney Andrea

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-082411-201151

Advisor

• Thompson, Robert W.

Year

• 2011

Sponsor

• Synthetic Genomics Incorperated

Date created

• 2011-08-24

Location

• San Diego

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright