Extraction of Microbial Lipids by Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide as Solvent

Abstract

Production of microbial oils by fermentation process using oleaginous organisms is one of the potential alternative sources of lipids. Rhodotorula gracilis, an oleaginous yeast is reported to accumulate 50-60 % of its biomass as lipids. The oil in the form of discrete globules within the cells, is usually extracted using organic solvents after disruption of the rigid cell wall. The efficiency of extraction of lipids by using supercritical carbon dioxide from untreated and acid treated cells was studied in this experiment. The fatty acid profile of the oil obtained was also investigated by gas chromatographic analysis.