Magnetic field and a bio-based solvent as greener alternatives in Phaffia rhodozyma cultivation: insights into astaxanthin and antioxidant activity thermal degradation

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate magnetic fields (MF) and a bio-based solvent as greener alternatives for processing natural astaxanthin from Phaffia rhodozyma biomass. To improve carotenoid production, MF was evaluated using a central composite design (CCD), which demonstrated effectiveness by increasing astaxanthin production by 24.8% and productivity by 78.9% by comparison with the control in validated models. In the context of solid-liquid extraction, an environmental assessment of astaxanthin recovery identified ethanol (EtOH) as a promising and sustainable alternative, with an 89% recovery yield during processing. Furthermore, the study inspired an assessment of the stability of carotenogenic extracts at various temperatures throughout time, providing useful information about antioxidant activity and color parameters during storage. This study is one of the first to incorporate insights into the use of MF application and a bio-based solvent as greener alternatives for processing natural astaxanthin from P. rhodozyma biomass.