Low pressure supercritical CO2 extraction of astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis demonstrated on a microfluidic chip. (February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cheng, Xiang; Qi, ZhenBang; Burdyny, Thomas; Kong, Tian; Sinton, David
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 250(2018)
• Page Start: 481
• Page End: 485
• Publication Date: 2018-02
• Subjects: Supercritical CO2 extraction -- Astaxanthin -- Microalgae -- Microfluidics -- Co-solvent; 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.2017.11.070
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Highlights: Supercritical CO2 extraction of astaxanthin was performed on a microfluidic reactor. Astaxanthin extraction using ScCO2 achieved 92% recovery at 55 °C and 8 MPa over 15 h. The effect of temperature on extraction rate was investigated from 40 °C to 70 °C. With the addition of co-solvents, full recovery was achieved within a few minutes. Abstract: This study demonstrates the efficacy of low pressure supercritical CO2 extraction of astaxanthin from disrupted Haematococcus pluvialis. A microfluidic reactor was employed that enabled excellent control and allowed direct monitoring of the whole process at the single cell level, in real time. Astaxanthin extraction using ScCO2 achieved 92% recovery at 55 °C and 8 MPa applied over 15 h. With the addition of co-solvents, ethanol and olive oil, the extraction rates in both experiments were significantly improved reaching full recovery within a few minutes. Notably, for the ethanol case, the timescales of extraction process are reduced 1800-fold from 15 h to 30 s at 55 °C and 8 MPa, representing the fastest complete astaxanthin extraction at such low pressures.