ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Indigenous method of microalgal biomass conversion into biodiesel, carotenoids and pharmacological agent

A. Josephine, T. S. Kumar, Ashok Kumar Sekar, S. Rajakumar, R. Kirubagaran, and G. Dharani

Department of Research, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (MAHER-Deemed to be University), Chennai, India

E-mail: ajosephineanthony@gmail.com

Received: 10 May 2024  Accepted: 19 October 2025

Abstract:

Efficient conversion of biomass to high value-added products is a major bottleneck and demands the search of new and novel products. The present study reports the indigenous method of production of pharmacological agent enriched with proteins from the single wet (live) biomass of Chlorella vulgaris and significantly higher yield of lipid and carotenoids from the waste biomass after protein extraction. With an idea of obtaining novel pharmacological agents, live biomass is used for simultaneous extraction of multiple products. Hot water extraction method is adopted for economically feasible and efficient extraction of protein rich compounds with pharmacological properties. The waste biomass is utilized for lipid and carotenoid extraction and the lipid is converted into biodiesel. The level of lipid, protein and carotenoids were enhanced to 17%, 46.4% and 36.09 µg/mL in the biomass after hot water extraction than compared to the control biomass of C. vulgaris (lipid- 10.4%; protein- 32.56% and carotenoids- 10.38 µg/mL), signifying the efficiency of hot water extraction for lipid isolation. The fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profile of biomass after hot water extraction indicates that more saturated fatty acids (36.2%) and monounsaturated fatty acids (29.8) than polyunsaturated (Di- and tri-) fatty acids (34.9%) make the lipid efficient for biodiesel production. Significant anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory potential was noted by the hot water extract (HWE). The HWE was also investigated for wound healing and anti-cancer ability, primarily due to the presence of chlorella growth factor (CGF, a nucleotide-peptide complex along with carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals) in the HWE. For the first time, the study highlights the indigenous method for efficient waste biomass conversion into lipid and high value-added products and pharmacological agent with significant therapeutic properties using hot water extraction method.

Graphical abstract

Keywords: Wet biomass; Hot water extraction; Anti-diabetic; Anti-inflammatory; Anti-cancer; Would healing; C. vulgaris

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04466-x

Chemical Papers 80 (2) 1505–1519 (2026)