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. 2023 Jan 11;28(2):720.
doi: 10.3390/molecules28020720.

Use of Refractance Window Drying as an Alternative Method for Processing the Microalga Spirulina platensis

Neiton C Silva  1 , Luis V D Freitas  1 , Thaise C Silva  1 , Claudio R Duarte  1 , Marcos A S Barrozo  1
Affiliations

Use of Refractance Window Drying as an Alternative Method for Processing the Microalga Spirulina platensis

Neiton C Silva et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Microalgae such as Spirulina platensis have recently attracted the interest of the pharmaceutical, nutritional and food industries due to their high levels of proteins and bioactive compounds. In this study, we investigated the use of refractance window (RW) drying as an alternative technology for processing the microalga Spirulina biomass aiming at its dehydration. In addition, we also analyzed the effects of operating variables (i.e., time and temperature) on the quality of the final product, expressed by the content of bioactive compounds (i.e., total phenolics, total flavonoids, and phycocyanin). The results showed that RW drying can generate a dehydrated product with a moisture content lower than 10.0%, minimal visual changes, and reduced process time. The content of bioactive compounds after RW drying was found to be satisfactory, with some of them close to those observed in the fresh microalga. The best results for total phenolic (TPC) and total flavonoids (TFC) content were obtained at temperatures of around 70 °C and processing times around 4.5 h. The phycocyanin content was negatively influenced by higher temperatures (higher than 80 °C) and high exposing drying times (higher than 4.5 h) due to its thermosensibility properties. The use of refractance window drying proved to be an interesting methodology for the processing and conservation of Spirulina platensis, as well as an important alternative to the industrial processing of this biomass.

Keywords: Spirulina platensis; anti-cancer products; bioactive compounds; pharmaceutical potential; phycocyanin; refractance window drying.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Fresh (a) and RW-dried (b) Spirulina samples.
Figure 2
Figure 2
RW dehydration kinetics: experimental results and prediction by the Midilli et al. [31] kinetic model.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Total phenolic content (TPC).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Total flavonoid content (TFC).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Phycocyanin content (PC).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Surface responses for TPC (a), TFC (b) and PC (c).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Refractance window (RW) drying experimental apparatus: (a) RW dryer; (b) schematic Figure.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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