Study on the microalgal pigments extraction process: Performance of microwave assisted extraction

Abstract

The performance of microwaves irradiation (MAE and VMAE) to extract pigments from two marine microalgae was compared to conventional processes (cold and hot soaking and ultrasound-assisted extraction). Pigments were quantified by RP-HPLC and extraction performance was assessed regarding rapidity, reproducibility and extraction yields. Scanning electron microscopy was used at all extraction steps to assess the impact of the process on microalgal cell integrity. Freeze-drying and pigments extraction preserved microalgae cell integrity (except sonication) and evoked agglutination in superposed cells layers. All processes performed on Dunaliella tertiolecta (chlorophyte) lead to rapid pigments extraction, and equivalent pigments extraction yields, the absence of frustule allowing immediate solvent penetration in microalgae cells. In contrast, presence of the frustule in the diatom Cylindrotheca closterium (bacillariophyte) constituted a mechanical barrier to pigment extraction. MAE was identified as the best extraction process for CC pigments as it combined rapidity, reproducibility, homogeneous heating and high extraction yields.

Primary Production

“…Furthermore, there are several suitable solvents that meet the requirements and regulations of the food and feed sectors. Other extraction techniques, which have already been described for the extraction of plant biomass, including ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), pulsed electric field extraction (PEF) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), are also at the focus of current research in order to adapt them for microalgae treatment (Parniakov et al 2015;Pasquet et al 2011;Plaza et al 2012). …”

Towards the Clinical Use of Phytoplankton Carotenoid Pigments to Cure Cancer

“…Besides the purification of antiproliferative pigments [5,6], additional studies established that multiple cellular and molecular processes are affected by microalgae carotenoids. It was first demonstrated that their antioxidant activity protects against ROSinduced DNA mutations, and tissue and animals studies confirmed that most carotenoids effectively reduce the inflammatory processes initiated by carcinogenic agents, and thus prevent the risk of cancer initiation.…”

Quality Preservation and Cost Effectiveness in the Extraction of Nutraceutically-Relevant Fractions from Microbial and Vegetal Matrices

“…This latter aim requires that the basic structure of the extracted particles be stiff. Vegetal cells generally feature a stiff structure; microalgae lacking frustule or thick outer exopolysaccharide envelope may not benefit from microwave-assisted extraction (Pasquet et al, 2011), while wall-possessing microalgae benefit greatly from it (yields 3x-5x in a fraction of the time; Cravotto et al, 2008). Microwave assisted extraction may be carried out in closed and open systems (Figure 7).…”