Continuous extraction of Spirulina platensis biopigments using different extraction sequences

Abstract

The use of microalga Spirulina is developing rapidly in the industry. Spirulina biomass is widely used in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical industry because it is rich in biochemicals and antioxidants that are beneficial to human health. This study aimed to determine the biopigment contents in S. platensis and examine the sequences of continuous extraction process to obtain the optimal biopigment yields. Biopigments of S. platensis extracted in this study were total chlorophyll of 52.28 μg/mL (25.28 μg/mL chlorophyll a and 27 μg/mL chlorophyll b), total carotenoid of 7.9 μg/mL and phycocyanin of 0.020 mg/L. In addition to biopigments, a residue in the form of solid powder was also produced at 20.7 % of biomass. Simultaneous extraction of chlorophyll and total carotenoids was successfully applied in this study, while the optimal phycocyanin extraction should be further developed. The optimal extraction sequence of biopigments was extraction of chlorophyll then carotenoid with low heating and followed by extraction of phycocyanin.