Extraction of Non-polar Molecules from Green Alga Chlorella vulgaris by Electroporation

Preliminary study with extraction by electroporation of non-polar molecules from green alga Chlorella vulgaris showed very promising results. For successful extraction by electroporation from above mentioned alga takes at least 3.8 kJ of energy input/L dense algae, the best extraction is carried out around 7.2 kJ of energy input/L dense algae (at the amplitude of the electric field from 0,5 to 2,7 kV/cm). A sufficient quantity of algal biomass (dense algal suspension has > 107 cells/L in our experimental conditions). Indeed, when more cells are present in the suspension, the less likely the pulse will avoid cells due to the conductivity of the medium, resulting in better extraction by electroporation. It is also important to have optimal conductivity of the medium (1 to 1.3 mS/cm in our experimental conditions). Studied extraction by electroporation parameters for chosen alga (voltage, pulse length and different number of pulses delivered to biomass) and algal growth regeneration after different electroporation settings are presented.