Extraction of chlorophyll from wild and farmed Ulva spp. using aqueous solutions of ionic liquids

Abstract

Products extracted from natural resources are an increasing trend in several fields promoted by consumer demand. Allied to the importance attached to the concept of obtained. In this work, chlorophyll was extracted from batches of wild-harvested and farm-raised green macroalgae spp. from two different European locations, Portugal and France. The performance of different aqueous solutions of tensioactive compounds such as ionic liquids and common surfactants in the yield of extraction of chlorophyll was studied and the operational conditions of extraction were optimized. The effect of drying the biomass on the yield of extraction of chlorophyll was evaluated as well as the effect of both locations (and the specific conditions of each location in terms of nutrients, water temperature and light intensity) in chlorophyll production. After optimization of all operational conditions, a maximum yield of extraction of 5.96 mgchl.gdry algae -1 was obtained using 250 mM of tributyltetradecylphosphonium chloride ([P4,4,4,14]Cl). The use of this solvent has allowed the development of a cost-effective (conclusion obtainedafter the economic analysis) and efficient process capable of maintaining the stability of the final product for more than one month.

Sustainable Large-Scale Aquaculture of the Northern Hemisphere Sea Lettuce, Ulva fenestrata, in an Off-Shore Seafarm

“…Even though most studies on European Ulva aquaculture are focusing on tank-or pond-based cultivation approaches, e.g., [24,42,53], our study confirms that a sustainable large-scale cultivation of U. fenestrata is benefited by sea-based rope cultivation. Whereas on-shore cultivation of Ulva spp.…”

“…Our study showed that the average total chlorophyll a (1.29-1.69 mg g −1 ), chlorophyll b (0.73-1.32 mg g −1 ) and carotenoids (0.44-0.85 mg g −1 ) content of off-shore cultivated U. fenestrata was in the average to upper range of what has previously been reported for Ulva spp. [53,78]. Previous studies have confirmed an increase of chlorophylls and carotenoids in Ulva spp.…”

Bioactive Compounds, Cosmeceutical And Nutraceutical Applications of Green Seaweed Species (Chlorophyta)

“…The most common types of chlorophylls present in Chlorophyta are chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. Chlorophyta utilized these photosynthetic pigments to absorb light needed for the growth, with the presence of carbon dioxide and carbohydrates. Chlorophylls contained reduced porphyrin rings, with a central magnesium atom and a long hydrophobic tail, making them less soluble in water (Martins et al, 2021a). In most industries, chlorophylls have been used as natural colorants in foods and beverages and been reported to portray antioxidant, antitumor and antimicrobial activities (Martins et al, 2021a).…”

“…Chlorophylls contained reduced porphyrin rings, with a central magnesium atom and a long hydrophobic tail, making them less soluble in water (Martins et al, 2021a). In most industries, chlorophylls have been used as natural colorants in foods and beverages and been reported to portray antioxidant, antitumor and antimicrobial activities (Martins et al, 2021a). Martins et al (2021b) revealed that a maximum yield of chlorophyll (5.96 mg/g DW) was successfully extracted from U. rigida, using a cost-effective extraction method, using 250 mM tributyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium chloride as the solvent.…”

Insights on the use of alternative solvents and technologies to recover bio‐based food pigments

“…Recently, the economic viability has been discussed by Martins et al. (2020), who developed an alternative process mediated by an aqueous solution of [P 4,4,4,14 ]Cl to extract chlorophylls from Ulva spp. This work allowed the authors to conclude that, besides having developed a more efficient process in terms of chlorophyll extraction yield, it was also considered more cost‐effective (expressed in Cost of goods per mg chlorophyll ) and simpler (faster and with less raw materials), highlighting the promising role alternative solvents like ILs can have on the development of Biorefinery strategies.…”