Journal
EUROPEAN FOOD RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY
Volume 223, Issue 6, Pages 787-790Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s00217-006-0270-8
Keywords
microalga; Haematococcus pluvialis; carotenoids; astaxanthin; supercritical fluid extraction
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Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of astaxanthin and other carotenoids from Haematococcus pluvialis was carried out, for several experimental conditions, using a semi-continuous apparatus. The microalga was previously freeze-dried and ground with a ball mill. The effects of pressure (200 and 300 bar), temperature (40 and 60 degrees C), degree of crushing, as well as the use of ethanol as a co-solvent (10%) on the extraction efficiency were assessed. Organic solvent extractions, using acetone, were also carried out in a vortex, on ground cells mixed with very small glass beads. Supercritical extraction from the completely crushed alga was compared with acetone and the highest recovery of carotenoids (92%) was obtained at the pressure of 300 bar and the temperature of 60 degrees C, using ethanol as a co-solvent. The extraction recovery increased with the pressure at 60 degrees C. On the other hand, the increase in temperature, at 300 bar, led to a slight improvement. The main carotenoid of Haematococcus pluvialis is the esterified astaxanthin (about 75%). Other carotenoids present are lutein, astaxanthin (free), beta-carotene and canthaxanthin. All of them were recovered through supercritical fluid extraction with values higher than 90%, with the exception of canthaxanthin (about 85%), at a pressure of 300 bar and a temperature of 60 degrees C.
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