Optimization of Lutein Recovery from Tetraselmis suecica by Response Surface Methodology.

Kang Hyun Lee,Hansol Kim,Ye Won Jang,Hah Young Yoo,Jang-Seu Ki

doi:10.3390/biom11020182

Abstract

Microalgae have been attracting attention as feedstock for biorefinery because they have various advantages, such as carbon fixation, high growth rate and high energy yield. The bioactive compounds and lutein contained in microalgae are known to be beneficial for human health, especially eye and brain health. In this study, in order to improve the recovery of bioactive extracts including lutein from Tetraselmis suecica with higher efficiency, an effective solvent was selected, and the extraction parameters such as temperature, time and solid loading were optimized by response surface methodology. The most effective solvent for lutein recovery was identified as 100% methanol, and the optimum condition was determined (42.4 °C, 4.0 h and 125 g/L biomass loading) by calculation of the multiple regression model. The maximum content of recovered lutein was found to be 2.79 mg/mL, and the ABTS radical scavenging activity (IC50) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) value were about 3.36 mg/mL and 561.9 μmol/L, respectively. Finally, the maximum lutein recovery from T. suecica through statistical optimization was estimated to be 22.3 mg/g biomass, which was 3.1-fold improved compared to the control group.

Highlights

Biorefinery is defined as a biomass conversion process to obtain various products from biomass [1]
Lutein was not recovered when distilled water (DW), hexane, heptane and ethyl acetate (EA) were used as solvents
Polar solvents such as Ace, EtOH and MeOH are more suitable for xanthophylls, including lutein and violaxanthin, whereas nonpolar solvents such as hexane, chloroform and tetrahydrofuran (THF) are more efficient for carotene and esterified carotenoids [26,27]

Summary

Introduction

Biorefinery is defined as a biomass conversion process to obtain various products (e.g., chemicals, fuels and materials) from biomass [1]. The first-generation biomass used in biorefinery, such as corn, wheat, sugar cane and cassava, has caused competition for food source in countries with low income [3]. Microalgae, a third-generation biomass, are potential substrates for biorefinery due to advantages such as carbon fixation, high growth rates, low land use and high energy yield compared to terrestrial biomass [5,6]. Various studies have been performed to convert microalgae into biofuels (bioethanol, biodiesel and biomethane) or valuable products (polysaccharide, biopolymers, antioxidant and pigment) due to its abnormal growth causing environmental pollution, involving disruption of aquatic ecosystem, mass mortality of fish and depletion of oxygen and poisonous water [6,7,8]

Methods

Results

Conclusion