Oils are extracted from algae via several steps that separate the valuable lipids from the rest of the algae's biomass. After harvesting and drying the algae, the cells are often disrupted using mechanical, chemical, or enzymatic methods to break open the cell walls and release the oils inside. Common techniques include high-pressure homogenization, bead milling, or ultrasonic disruption.
Once the cells are broken, solvents such as hexane or ethanol can be used to dissolve and extract the oils. In some cases, supercritical carbon dioxide extraction is used, which avoids harmful solvents and can produce high-quality oils. After extraction, the oil is separated from the solvent and further purified to remove impurities. The final product can be used for biofuels, nutritional supplements, cosmetics, or industrial applications.
