Microalgae are photosynthetic unicellular microorganisms
capable of converting sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to algal
biomass. Their high photosynthetic rates enable microalgae to
serve as an effective carbon capture platform while rapidly accumulating
lipids in their biomass. Even in a conservative scenario,
microalgae are predicted to produce about 10 times more biodiesel
per unit area of land than a typical terrestrial oleaginous crop [1–4].
Since microalgal species can be cultured on non-arable land, the
production of algal biomass does not place additional strains on
food production [5]. For these reasons, microalgae are currently
considered some of the most promising alternative sources for biodiesel
feedstock [3].
Traditionally, lipids have been extracted from biological matrices
using a combination of chloroform, methanol, and water