Optimization of protocols is required for each specific type of biomass processed by electroporation of the cell membrane with high voltage pulsed electric fields (PEF). Such optimization requires convenient and adaptable laboratory systems, which will enable determination of both electrical and mechanical parameters for successful electroporation and fractionation. In this work, we report on a laboratory PEF system consisting of a high voltage generator with a novel asymmetric voltage multiplying architecture and a treatment chamber with sliding electrodes. The system allows applying pulses of up to 4 kV and 1 kA with a pulse duration between 1 μs and 100 μs. The allowable energy dissipated per pulse on electroporated biomass is determined by the conditions for cooling the biomass in the electroporation cell. The device was tested on highly conductive green macroalgae from Ulva sp., a promising but challenging feedstock for the biorefinery. Successful electroporation was confirmed with bioimpedance measurements.

Industrial relevance

Seaweed biomass is an emerging feedstock for biorefineries with already 30 million tons per year of global industrial production. However, most of the biomass produced today is lost. Pulsed electric field (PEF) extraction could allow saving energy on biomass drying, deashing and it could allow extracting various organic compounds. However, the parameters needed to seaweed biomass treatment with PEF are not known and will differ from species to species. Furthermore, very high salt content challenges most of the available laboratory PEF devices, limiting the ability for parameters optimization in the lab. The developed laboratory scale PEF system coupled to bioimpedance measurement provides a necessary set of tools and methods for PEF parameters optimization required for process scale-up.

中文翻译：

---

具有不对称倍压器的高压脉冲电场实验室装置，用于海洋大型藻类的电穿孔

对于通过高压脉冲电场（PEF）对细胞膜进行电穿孔处理的每种特定类型的生物质，都需要优化协议。这种优化需要方便且适应性强的实验室系统，这将能够确定电气和机械参数，以成功进行电穿孔和分离。在这项工作中，我们报告了一个实验室PEF系统，该系统由具有新型不对称电压倍增架构的高压发生器和带有滑动电极的处理室组成。该系统允许施加最高4 kV和1 kA的脉冲，脉冲持续时间在1μs和100μs之间。每个脉冲在电穿孔生物质上耗散的允许能量由冷却电穿孔细胞中生物质的条件确定。Ulva sp。，这是一种用于生物精炼的有前途但具有挑战性的原料。通过生物阻抗测量证实了成功的电穿孔。

行业相关性

海藻生物质是一种新兴的生物炼油原料，每年全球工业生产已达3000万吨。但是，今天生产的大部分生物质都损失了。脉冲电场（PEF）提取可以节省生物质干燥，去灰的能量，并且可以提取各种有机化合物。但是，用PEF处理海藻生物量所需的参数未知，并且因种而异。此外，非常高的盐含量对大多数可用的实验室PEF设备构成了挑战，从而限制了实验室中参数优化的能力。开发的实验室规模的PEF系统与生物阻抗测量相结合，为工艺放大所需的PEF参数优化提供了必要的工具和方法。