Evaluation of ionic liquids on phototrophic microbes and their use in biofuel extraction and isolation

Katherine S. Lovejoy, Lauren E. Davis, Lisa M. McClellan, Antonietta M. Lillo, John D. Welsh, Emily N. Schmidt, Claire K. Sanders, Alexander J. Lou, David T. Fox, Andrew T. Koppisch, Rico E. Del Sesto

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Multiple ionic liquids (ILs) were assessed for their ability to extract branched, unsaturated hydrocarbons from an aqueous medium. In addition, IL cytotoxicity studies were performed on two phototrophic microbes, Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 and Botryococcus braunii var Showa. The optimum IL for use in an isoprenoid hydrocarbon extraction may vary based on the biological source of the isoprenoids. Our results suggest that ionic liquids have the potential to serve as novel biocompatible milking agents for extracting high-value chemicals from the microbes, with toxicity to both species minimized by considerations of ionic liquid structure and hydrophobicity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)973-981
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Applied Phycology
Volume25
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2013

Keywords

  • Biofuels
  • Botryococcenes
  • Ionic liquids
  • Milking

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aquatic Science
  • Plant Science

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