Emulsifying properties of ruptured microalgae cells: Barriers to lipid extraction or promising biosurfactants?

Abstract

A systematic investigation of the emulsifying properties of ruptured algae cells was performed for the first time. The slurry of ruptured algae cells was separated into different biomass fractions, namely the cell debris, the delipidated debris, the serum, and the lipid. The interfacial interactions of these biomass fractions with a nonpolar solvent (e.g. hexane or hexadecane) were characterized using pendant drop tensiometry and interfacial shear rheology. The stability of the different emulsions (formed by the different biomass fractions) was tested using analytical centrifugation. The extracted lipid was an excellent surfactant that reduced the interfacial tension, however, it was not eff..