Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction of Astaxanthin, Lutein, and Fatty Acids from Haematococcus pluvialis Microalgae

• Published in: Marine drugs Vol. 16; no. 9; p. 334
• Main Authors: Sanzo, Giuseppe Di, Mehariya, Sanjeet, Martino, Maria, Larocca, Vincenzo, Casella, Patrizia, Chianese, Simeone, Musmarra, Dino, Balducchi, Roberto, Molino, Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 13.09.2018; MDPI
• Subjects: Algae; Antioxidants; Astaxanthin; Biomass; Carbon dioxide; Carbon Dioxide - chemistry; Carotenoids; Chlorophyceae - metabolism; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid - methods; Cosmetics; Economic development; Environmental impact; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids - isolation & purification; Fatty Acids - metabolism; Fish; Flow velocity; Fluids; Food additives; Haematococcus pluvialis; Lutein; Lutein - isolation & purification; Lutein - metabolism; Microalgae; Microalgae - metabolism; natural medicines; Recovery; Solvent extraction processes; supercritical fluid extraction; Supercritical fluids; Supercritical gas extraction; Sustainability; Vegetables; Xanthophylls - isolation & purification; Xanthophylls - metabolism; United States > US; Italy; supercritical fluid extraction; fatty acids; Haematococcus pluvialis; microalgae; natural medicines; lutein; astaxanthin
• ISSN: 1660-3397; 1660-3397
• DOI: 10.3390/md16090334

microalgae in the red phase can produce significant amounts of astaxanthin, lutein, and fatty acids (FAs), which are valuable antioxidants in nutraceutics and cosmetics. Extraction of astaxanthin, lutein, and FAs from disrupted biomass of the red phase using carbon dioxide (CO₂) in supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) conditions was investigated using a bench-scale reactor in a semi-batch configuration. In particular, the effect of extraction time (20, 40, 60, 80, and 120 min), CO₂ flow rate (3.62 and 14.48 g/min) temperature (50, 65, and 80 °C), and pressure (100, 400, and 550 bar.) was explored. The results show the maximum recovery of astaxanthin and lutein achieved were 98.6% and 52.3%, respectively, at 50 °C and 550 bars, while the maximum recovery of FAs attained was 93.2% at 65 °C and 550 bars.