McNair Symposium

2025 McNair Research Symposium

Nathan Martinez


Comparative Analysis of Single-Stage and Multi-Stage Lipid Extraction from Chlorella vulgaris for Biofuel Applications

The continued reliance on fossil fuels contributes significantly to climate change, yet current biofuel production methods remain inefficient and unsustainable. This urgency underscores the need for viable eco-friendly alternatives to support a sustainable future. Microalgae have emerged as a promising source for biofuel production due to their high lipid content and rapid growth in diverse environments, which can allow for minimal growth competition. This study investigates the potential of Chlorella vulgaris as both a biofuel source and a potential agent for wastewater treatment, contributing to water purification while generating lipid-rich biomass. A key focus of this work is optimizing the lipid extraction process. The central goal is to compare the efficiency of single-stage versus multi-stage extraction methods, with lipid yields measured through gravimetric analysis. Several experimental trials were conducted under varied culture conditions and extraction parameters to determine the most effective strategy for lipid production and extraction. The results are expected to show that the multi-stage extraction method yields a higher lipid content than the single-stage process because of its improved solvent saturation control, and it allows for a more complete extraction process. Anticipated obstacles such as contamination, cultivation inefficiencies, and cost barriers are addressed. The findings aim to provide crucial insight into scalable biofuel production systems and contribute foundational data for the future of algae-based technologies involving renewable energy. These outcomes will enable a quantitative comparison of extraction methods and highlight the practical implications for sustainable fuel development.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Matthew Alexander

Wayne H. King Department of Chemical and Natural Gas Engineering

Nathan Martinez' poster

Nathan Martinez