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Volume 30
Issue 22
10.3390/molecules30224428
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

A Simplified Methodology for Solvent Screening in Selective Extraction of Lipids from Microalgae Based on Hansen Solubility Parameters

by
Costas Tsioptsias
1,*,
Stefania Mitis
1,
Alexandra Rentzela
1,
Kalitsa Alvanou
1,
Dimitra Kelesi
1,
Christos Manolis
1,
Anastasia Stergiou
1,
Sotirios D. Kalamaras
2 and
Petros Samaras
1
1
Department of Food Science and Technology, Alexandrian University Campus at Sindos, International Hellenic University, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece
2
Laboratory of Animal Production and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Molecules 2025, 30(22), 4428; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30224428 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 21 October 2025 / Revised: 11 November 2025 / Accepted: 13 November 2025 / Published: 16 November 2025
Versions Notes

Abstract

Microalgae are considered a potential source of fatty acid esters that are suitable for biodiesel production. However, a principal bottleneck in lipids extraction is related to the selection of appropriate solvents in order to obtain an efficient process. In this work, a simple methodology based on Hansen Solubility Parameters (HSP) was developed, aiming to solvent screening towards selective extraction of lipid compounds: main parameters that were considered for an optimum solvent included the partitioning of free fatty acids and other non-desired solutes, e.g., pigments and phospholipids, as well as the minimum water dissolution. The method takes into account the affinity of a candidate solvent with desired and non-desired solutes along with their relative differences. A large number of solvents (>5000) were scanned by this method for their capacity to selectively extract fatty acid esters from microalgae biomass, and hexane proved to be among the optimum solvents. This prediction was supported by the Snyder’s polarity index as well as ab initio quantum mechanical Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations of the Gibbs free energy of solvation and partition coefficients. Moreover, model validation carried out by liquid–liquid extraction of algal liquor with hexane and other solvents, and measurement of lipids allocation using paper chromatography and spectroscopy. Low lipids yield was observed, while the extract was enriched in fatty acid esters. A critical discussion is provided regarding the low yield ratios and potential implications due to overestimation of lipids content in microalgae.
Keywords: algae; biodiesel; solvent extraction; selective extraction; Hansen Solubility Parameters; lipids; glycerides algae; biodiesel; solvent extraction; selective extraction; Hansen Solubility Parameters; lipids; glycerides

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MDPI and ACS Style

Tsioptsias, C.; Mitis, S.; Rentzela, A.; Alvanou, K.; Kelesi, D.; Manolis, C.; Stergiou, A.; Kalamaras, S.D.; Samaras, P. A Simplified Methodology for Solvent Screening in Selective Extraction of Lipids from Microalgae Based on Hansen Solubility Parameters. Molecules 2025, 30, 4428. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30224428

AMA Style

Tsioptsias C, Mitis S, Rentzela A, Alvanou K, Kelesi D, Manolis C, Stergiou A, Kalamaras SD, Samaras P. A Simplified Methodology for Solvent Screening in Selective Extraction of Lipids from Microalgae Based on Hansen Solubility Parameters. Molecules. 2025; 30(22):4428. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30224428

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tsioptsias, Costas, Stefania Mitis, Alexandra Rentzela, Kalitsa Alvanou, Dimitra Kelesi, Christos Manolis, Anastasia Stergiou, Sotirios D. Kalamaras, and Petros Samaras. 2025. "A Simplified Methodology for Solvent Screening in Selective Extraction of Lipids from Microalgae Based on Hansen Solubility Parameters" Molecules 30, no. 22: 4428. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30224428

APA Style

Tsioptsias, C., Mitis, S., Rentzela, A., Alvanou, K., Kelesi, D., Manolis, C., Stergiou, A., Kalamaras, S. D., & Samaras, P. (2025). A Simplified Methodology for Solvent Screening in Selective Extraction of Lipids from Microalgae Based on Hansen Solubility Parameters. Molecules, 30(22), 4428. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30224428

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