Carotenoid and lipid extraction from Heterochlorella luteoviridis using moderate electric field and ethanol

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of moderate electric field (MEF) and ethanol concentration on carotenoid and lipid extraction from the microalgae Heterochlorella luteoviridis. The extraction was performed using 0–180V and 25mL/100mL of ethanol/water solution during 10min of pretreatment, followed by a diffusive step using 25–75mL/100mL of ethanol/water solution during 50min. Carotenoid and lipid content analyses were performed on the supernatant after each extraction process. Results showed that MEF and ethanol concentration affected carotenoid extraction, while lipid extraction was only affected by ethanol concentration. The application of MEF combined with ethanol as solvent (180V, 75mL/100mL of ethanol solution) yielded up to 73% of carotenoid extraction, proving to be an attractive alternative method to extract these compounds from the microalgae Heterochlorella luteoviridis biomass. The highest lipid extraction yield (83%) was achieved when 75mL/100mL of ethanol solution was used.