Application of fuzzy modelling and Particle Swarm Optimization to enhance lipid extraction from microalgae

Abstract Lipid extraction from microalgae is maximized by defining the optimal operating conditions of the microwave pretreatment method. Using the experimental data, a robust model that describes the lipid extraction is generated using fuzzy logic. Then, the optimal extraction conditions of the lipid are determined using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm. Three different operating parameters influence on the recovered lipid from Microalgae. These parameters are power (W), heating time (min), and extraction time (h). Accordingly, during the optimization process, these parameters are used as a decision variables for PSO optimizer in order to maximize the recovered lipid that used as a cost function. The resulting plots demonstrated a well-fitting between the fuzzy model and the experimental data. Based on the built model, the optimization process achieved a significant increase in the lipid extraction by 22% compared to that obtained experimentally and using the ANOVA.