Direct method of producing fatty acid esters from microbial biomass

摘要

A method of producing fatty acid esters in situ from microbial biomass such as algae is provided by treating microbial biomass with a solution containing an alcohol and at least one α-hydroxysulfonic acid. Fatty acid ester can be directly recovered from the treated microbial biomass. The α-hydroxysulfonic acid can be easily removed from the treated microbial biomass and recycled.