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Research background. C-phycocyanin (C-PC) as a water-soluble blue pigment was extracted from microalga Arthrospira. C-PC could be a good substitute for synthetic pigments with high antioxidant activity. However, C-PC is unstable due to sensitivity to temperature, light, pH, and oxygen; therefore applications of C-PC in food and other products are limited. Microencapsulation of C-PC using freeze-drying is a solution to this problem and is considered a suitable method for drying heat-sensitive pigment. Experimental approach. C-phycocyanin was extracted from Arthrospira platensis. C-phycocyanin microcapsules were modified by freeze-drying, with different ratios at 0-100 % of maltodextrin (MD) and gum Arabic (GA) used as microencapsulation wall materials. The powders produced were evaluated for physical properties including moisture content and water activity, solubility, hygroscopicity, bulk density, colour appearance, particle morphology and size distribution. Thermal stability and antioxidant activity of freeze-dried C-PC microencapsulated powders were also assessed. Results and conclusions. Freeze-dried C-PC microencapsulated powders with maltodextrin and gum Arabic as wall materials gave high encapsulation efficiency of around 99 %. At higher gum Arabic percentage, moisture content decreased and water activity improved. Maltodextrin gave higher solubility of C-PC powders whereas gum Arabic led to a similar colour of C-PC without microencapsulation. Freeze-dried C-PC microencapsulated powders were composed of different sized microparticles regardless of the combination of wall materials with amorphous glassy shapes. Thermal stability of encapsulated C-PC increased and also showed high antioxidant properties. Novelty and scientific contribution. C-PC microcapsules that maintain colourant stability with high antioxidant levels and resistance to high temperatures can be applied in a wide variety of products and also in the food industry.

Arthrospira platensis (commercially known as Spirulina) is an excellent source of phycobiliproteins, especially C-phycocyanin. Phycobiliproteins are significant bioactive compounds with useful biological applications. The extraction process plays a significant role in downstream microalga production and utilisation. The important pigments found in A. platensis include chlorophyll and carotenoids as nonpolar pigments and phycobiliproteins as polar pigments. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) as a green extraction technology for the high-value metabolites of microalgae has potential for trends in food and human health. The nonpolar bioactive compounds, chlorophyll and carotenoids of A. platensis, were primarily separated using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) solvent-free fluid extraction pressure; the temperature and ethanol as cosolvent conditions were compared. The residue from the A. platensis cells was subjected to phycobiliprotein extraction. The phosphate and water extraction of A. platensis SFE residue were compared to evaluate phycobiliprotein extraction. The SFE results exhibited higher pressure (350 bar) and temperature extraction (50 °C) with ethanol-free extraction and increased nonpolar pigment. Phycobiliprotein yield was obtained from A. platensis SFE residue by ethanol-free buffer extraction as a suitable process with antioxidant properties. The C-phycocyanin was isolated and enhanced to 0.7 purity as food grade. This developed method can be used as a guideline and applied as a sustainable process for important pigment extraction from Arthrospira microalgae.

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