Extraction of lipids from wet Arthrospira platensis by liquefied dimethyl ether

Simple and energy-saving extraction of lipids and functional substances from wet Arthrospira platensis by using liquefied dimethyl ether (DME) is proposed. In the proposed method, drying of microalgae, cell wall breaking, heating for solvent evaporation is unnecessary. Direct extraction from wet A. platensis was successfully achieved. 94.2 wt% of the water in the A. platensis was removed by liquefied DME extraction and a dry residue was obtained. The amounts of carotenoid pigments extracted by liquefied DME were less than those by supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) extraction and hexane extraction. Also the amounts of carotenoid pigments extracted were smaller than those extracted with conventional solvents such as SC-CO₂ and hexane.