Among other applications, electroporation is used for extraction of substances from microorganisms and inactivation of pathogens in liquids where large scale flow systems are used. The aim of our work was therefore to test a newly developed pulse generator for flow treatment of microorganisms in order to extract lipids (microalgae) or observe inactivation (bacteria). The continuous flow PEF system was tested and evaluated for lipid extraction from microalgae Chlorella vulgaris. The initial experiments showed a 50% oil yield using the electroporation flow system in comparison to extraction with organic solvent. The extraction with PEF was found to be energy and time saving method. In the continuous flow PEF system also the inactivation of bacteria was tested. The flow rate was adjusted so that each bacterial cell received a defined number of pulses. Results were compared to ones obtained in cuvette, i.e. batch system.
COBISS.SI-ID: 10505556