Chapter 18 - β-Carotene from Dunaliella: Production, applications in food/feed, and recent advances

Abstract

β-Carotene is a carotenoid present in most microalgae as an accessory pigment and has been widely explored industrially from hypersaline microalgae Dunaliella, due to an overproduction of this carotenoid by these microalgae (ca. 10% of dry weight). The market for natural pigments is increasing due to a need to replace synthetic pigments by natural and sustainable sources, driven by sustainability and environmental consciousness of society and governmental incentives (e.g., in the EU, the UK, and the USA). The large-scale production is usually in extreme conditions (high light intensity, high salt concentration, nitrate deficiency, and extreme temperatures) to induce β-carotene accumulation and to avoid contaminations. Thus, processing parameters for growth and pigment accumulation, extraction, and purification processes must be considered, and several strategies for the optimization and scale-up of the bioprocess were already described. Moreover, the recognized bioactive potential of this pigment has drawn the attention of the food, feed, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetical industries. The β-carotene market is overall focused on its use as colorant and multivitamin supplements (as an antioxidant) for the food industry as color enhancer and health supplement for the food and feed industries (as an antiinflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral component). Furthermore, supplementing β-carotene as animal feed can lead to an increased growth and body weight, improved immune response, improved color of the animal’s flesh, and enrichment of products with bioactive compounds. This chapter aims to give an overview of the β-carotene production process and application in the food and feed industries, highlighting the advances and the challenges in its production.