Abstract
Considering the high interest and commercial value of pigments from microalgae, this study aimed to stablish the best lutein and β-carotene extraction method for Desmodesmus sp., a microalgae with high biomass production. The evaluation was done considering the best solvent or solvent mixture, number of extractions, pre-treatment of dry biomass with acetone, saponification in methanol and ethanol and stability evaluation of the obtained extract. Among achieved results, the best solvent extractor was a hexane:ethanol mixture in a 1:1 (v/v) proportion. In order to obtain maximum yield, the pattern stablished includes six extractions performed for 40 minutes. Stability tests presented that xanthophylls and carotenes pigments were more stable in methanol and that xanthophylls and carotenes pigments were less negatively affected than chlorophylls in the methanolic extract. Chromatographic identification and quantification of pigments from Desmodesmus sp. microalgae revealed that its major constituents are trans-zeaxanthin, chlorophyll b, β-carotene and trans-lutein.
Highlights
Microalgae are single cell microorganisms capable of transforming sunlight into chemical energy by photosynthesis
The best condition for these pigments extraction was the hexane:ethanol (1:1,v/v) mixture, which led to 324.65 ± 11.77 μg g−1 to lutein and 158.44 ± 8.51 μg g−1 to β-carotene content
Lutein maximum yield was obtained with 6 extractions of 40 min using hexane:ethanol (1:1, v/v)
Summary
Microalgae are single cell microorganisms capable of transforming sunlight into chemical energy by photosynthesis. Many bioactive compounds of commercial, medicinal and scientific interest are obtained from microalgae, such as pigments, antioxidants, fatty acids, enzymes, polymers, pharmaceuticals[1] and, most recently, fatty raw material for biodiesel production.[2,3]. Each microalgae species presents a specific class of pigments. Carotenoids and chlorophylls are the most common. Chlorophyll a is the major photosynthetic pigment in phytoplankton and it has been commonly used as an indicator of biomass production. Carotenoids are classified as carotenes or hydrocarbon carotenoids made of carbon and hydrogen only,[1] such as lycopene and β-carotene, and xanthophylls or oxygenated carotenoids, which may contain epoxides, carbonylic, hydroxylic, methoxy and carboxylic acids groups
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