Lipid extraction and CO2 capture with switchable polarity solvent

In this study, lipid extraction and CO2 capture are combined using N, N-dimethylcyclohexylamine (DMCHA) as switchable polarity solvent. The effects of operation parameters are discussed according to the CO2 absorption/ desorption and lipid/DMCHA recovery results. A triphasic models considering lipid, water, and gas phases are established to analyze the kinetic behaviors. The results show that DMCHA is reversible through CO2 absorption/ desorption, and the enhanced dispersion of droplets and bubbles in water phase improves the lipid/DMCHA recovery and CO2 absorption/desorption. The triphasic kinetic models fit well with experimental data, and gas-liquid mass transfer is regarded as the rate-determining step. The lower interfacial areas result in the poorer gas-liquid mass transfer for the DMCHA recovery than lipid recovery process.