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. 2020 Dec 21;25(24):6044.
doi: 10.3390/molecules25246044.

Effect of CO2 Flow Rate on the Extraction of Astaxanthin and Fatty Acids from Haematococcus pluvialis Using Supercritical Fluid Technology

Carolina Espinosa Álvarez  1 , Renata Vardanega  2   3 , Francisca Salinas-Fuentes  1 , Jenifer Palma Ramírez  1 , Waldo Bugueño Muñoz  1 , Diana Jiménez-Rondón  1 , M Angela A Meireles  2 , Pedro Cerezal Mezquita  1 , Mari Carmen Ruiz-Domínguez  1
Affiliations

Effect of CO2 Flow Rate on the Extraction of Astaxanthin and Fatty Acids from Haematococcus pluvialis Using Supercritical Fluid Technology

Carolina Espinosa Álvarez et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Haematococcus pluvialis is the largest producer of natural astaxanthin in the world. Astaxanthin is a bioactive compound used in food, feed, nutraceutics, and cosmetics. In this study, astaxanthin extraction from H. pluvialis by supercritical fluid extraction was evaluated. The effects of temperature (40 and 50 °C), pressure (40 and 50 MPa), and CO2 flow rate (2 and 4 L/min) were investigated. The results showed that the highest astaxanthin recovery was obtained at 50 °C/50 MPa and the CO2 flow rates evaluated had no significant effect. It was possible to achieve astaxanthin recoveries of 95% after 175 min for a CO2 flow rate of 2 L/min, and 95 min for CO2 flow rate of 4 L/min. The ω-6/ω-3 ratios obtained were similar in all conditions, reaching 0.87, demonstrating that the extracts from H. pluvialis by SFE are rich in unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) which increases their positive effects when used as a functional ingredient in food.

Keywords: astaxanthin; fatty acids; microalgae; supercritical fluid extraction.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Structure of the geometrical isomers (all-E)-astaxanthin, (9Z)-astaxanthin, and (13Z)-astaxanthin.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Total extraction yield obtained from H. pluvialis SFE at different pressure and temperature conditions. Different superscript letters a–c indicate statistically significant differences (p < 0.05).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Astaxanthin isomers distribution (All-E, 9Z, and 13Z) in the extracts obtained from H. pluvialis by SFE under different extraction conditions.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Overall extraction curve of H. pluvialis obtained by SFE at 50 °C 50 MPa with different CO2 flow rates (2 and 4 L/min). (A) Data plotted in function of extraction time and (B) in function of S/F ratio.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Overall extraction curve of H. pluvialis obtained by SFE at 50 °C 50 MPa with different CO2 flow rates (2 and 4 L/min). (A) Data plotted in function of extraction time and (B) in function of S/F ratio.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Astaxanthin yield from H. pluvialis extracts obtained by supercritical extraction at 50 °C/50 MPa, with different flow rates (2 L/min and 4 L/min).
Figure 6
Figure 6
(A) Diagram of the SFE equipment (Applied Separations, Spe-ed, Allentown, PA, USA). (1) CO2 cylinder; (2) Blocking valve; (3) Cooling bath; (4) CO2 pump; (5) Air filter; (6) Air compressor; (7) Pressure gauge; (8) Heater; (9) Temperature controller; (10) Extraction vessel and oven: (11) Micrometering valve; (12) Flow meter; (13) Sample collection. (B) Schematic diagram of the extraction vessel showing the way in which each of the elements that comprise it are arranged.
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References

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