Energy efficient bead milling of microalgae: Effect of bead size on disintegration and release of proteins and carbohydrates.

Abstract The disintegration of three industry relevant algae (Chlorella vulgaris, Neochloris oleoabundans and Tetraselmis suecica) was studied in a lab scale bead mill at different bead sizes (0.3–1 mm). Cell disintegration, proteins and carbohydrates released into the water phase followed a first order kinetics. The process is selective towards proteins over carbohydrates during early stages of milling. In general, smaller beads led to higher kinetic rates, with a minimum specific energy consumption of ⩽0.47 kWh kgDW−1 for 0.3 mm beads. After analysis of the stress parameters (stress number a... Mehr ...