Use of pulsed electric field permeabilization to extract astaxanthin from the Nordic microalga Haematococcus pluvialis. (October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martínez, Juan Manuel; Gojkovic, Zivan; Ferro, Lorenza; Maza, Marcos; Álvarez, Ignacio; Raso, Javier; Funk, Christiane
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 289(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Subjects: Astaxanthin -- Pulsed electric field (PEF) -- Microalgae -- Incubation -- Extraction; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121694
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Highlights: Permeabilization efficiency of H. pluvialis cells depended on growth conditions. Pulsed electric field followed by incubation efficiently extracts astaxanthin. PEF triggers an intracellular enzymatic process facilitating the extraction. Abstract: The Nordic microalgal strain Haematococcus pluvialis was exposed to various stress conditions to induce astaxanthin accumulation. Highest carotenoid content (19.1 mg·g −1 dw ) was achieved in nitrogen-free culture medium at a high light intensity. The efficiency of Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) pre-treatment of stressed fresh biomass of H. pluvialis followed by incubation in the growth medium was compared to classical disruption methods (bead-beating, freezing-thawing, thermal treatment or ultrasound) for the subsequent extraction of astaxanthin in ethanol. N-starved cells treated with PEF followed by aqueous incubation for 6 h resulted in extraction of 96% (18.3 mgcar ·gdw −1 ) of the total carotenoid content compared to 80% (15.3 mgcar ·gdw −1 ) using other physical methods. The proportion of free forms of astaxanthin was higher in PEF-treated samples compared to mechanical disruption, suggesting PEF triggering an esterase activity. PEF pre-treatment of the cells followed by incubation in growth medium improved astaxanthin extraction in the eco-friendly solvent ethanol.