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8114841 
Journal Article 
Algal lipid extraction using confined impinging jet mixers 
Tseng, YH; Mohanty, SK; Mclennan, JD; Pease, LF III 
2019 
Elsevier Ltd 
1 
English 
We show that confined impinging jet mixers (CIJMs) improve lipid extraction from microalgae. CIJMs turbulently mix organic solvent into algae suspensions. Turbulent flow shrinks the Kolmogorov length between algae cells and organic solvent, accelerating lipid diffusion and increasing lipid yield. Lipid extraction from Synechococcus Elongatus, for example, into hexane obtains yields similar to the performance of Bligh and Dyer methods using stronger chloroform and methanol solvent cocktails but much faster. Lipid yield does not vary significantly with the concentration of algae feedstock in the tested algae concentration range, implying that algae culture may be used directly as feedstock to CIJMs without intervening dewatering steps. Algal biocrude obtained from CIJMs converts successfully into biodiesel, and cascades of CIJMs increase the net lipid production. CIJMs provide fast lipid extraction, suggesting compelling opportunities to use CIJMs for extraction generally. © 2018 The Authors 
Algae harvest; Biofuel; Efficient; Liquid-liquid extraction; Turbulent jet mixing