What You Need to Know
Algae are grown in photobioreactors at 20–30 °C, pH 7–8 and 200–400 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ light, producing 10–30 g L⁻¹ biomass in 7–14 days. Downstream, lipids are extracted with supercritical CO₂ (35–40 °C, 100–200 bar) and proteins are recovered by alkaline solubilisation (pH 9–10) and isoelectric precipitation (pH 4.5–5.0), achieving 10–30 % oil and 70–85 % protein yields.
Steps
- 1.
Spirulina Tamales (Mexico): Provides vibrant blue-green masa coloring and umami depth
- 2.
Nori Algae Butter (Japan): Concentrated umami compounds enhance dairy fat
- 3.
Dulse Flakes (Ireland): Sun-drying intensifies marine aromatics for seasoning
The Science
Primary Reaction
Photosynthetic carbon fixation and subsequent supercritical CO₂ lipid extraction / alkaline protein solubilisation