| Abstract | Phycocyanin (PC) is a natural, non-toxic dye, with an intense blue color and high fluorescence, applied in cosmetic industries; preventive medicine, as a fluorescent reagent; and over the last years it has been widely disseminated in the food sector [1]. PC is the main accessory photosynthetic pigment of Arthrospira spp. (commonly known as Spirulina), composing up to 20% of the microalgae dry biomass [2]. Commercial production of Spirulina is, therefore, frequently used as a source of phycocyanin, to supply the increasing demand for natural food colorings. Although it is a relatively novel industry, various methods of extracting and purifying phycocyanin from different microalgae have been studied [3,4]. Among those, membrane filtration stands out as the technique present in more than half of the patents issued from 2015 to 2021 and a substantial number of research articles published in the same period [5]. Considering the state of the art and future trends observed in literature, this study assesses a 2-step serial tangential membrane filtration prototype with 3 kg- DW/day treatment capacity (see Graphical abstract). Tests were carried out using a commercial Spirulina biomass (A. platensis - Algaria Srl), having a total phycocyanin and allophycocyanin (another Spirulina bluish accessory pigment) concentration of about 135 g / kg DW. The system reached extraction yields of around 100 g PC / kg DW (about 75% extraction yield) and purity (absorbance ratios A620/A280) typically in the range of 1.5 - 2.5, comparable to laboratory assays reported on literature (>1.5) and well above that required for use in the food sector (>0.7). However, the phycocyanin concentration in the liquid extract was considerably low (1 - 2 g PC /L), compared to the requirements of downstream concentration/drying processes. Assembling extracts of subsequent batch cycles through the ultrafiltration step resulted in a promising way to increase phycocyanin concentration up to 5-10 gPC /L in the final concentrate. Such method is only limited by risks of partial oxidation of the PC solution, due to longer processing times. The tested prototype, when improved by the correct dimensioning and process automation, can be scalable up to industrial purposes for the concentration and purification of phycocyanin.
Keywords
Microalgae; Spirulina; Phycocyanin; Membrane filtration; Tangential filtration
References
1. Luzardo-Ocampo I, Ramírez-Jiménez AK, Yañez J, Mojica L, Luna-Vital DA. Technological applications of natural colorants in food systems: A review. Foods. 2021;10:1-34.
2. Marzorati S, Schievano A, Idà A, Verotta L. Carotenoids, chlorophylls and phycocyanin from Spirulina: Supercritical CO2 and water extraction methods for added value products cascade. Green Chem. Royal Society of Chemistry; 2020;22:187-96.
3. Prado JM, Veggi PC, Náthia-Neves G, Meireles MAA. Extraction Methods for Obtaining Natural Blue Colorants. Curr Anal Chem. 2018;16:504-32.
4. Pez Jaeschke D, Rocha Teixeira I, Damasceno Ferreira Marczak L, Domeneghini Mercali G. Phycocyanin from Spirulina: A review of extraction methods and stability. Food Res Int. 2021;143.
5. Bastos I, França JV. Technologic prospection of microalgae from the genus Arthrospira for the production of phycocyanin in industries. 2021. |
| Text | 479402 2022 Microalgae Spirulina Phycocyanin Membrane filtration Tangential filtration A 2 STEP SERIAL MEMBRANE FILTRATION FOR THE EXTRACTION AND PURIFICATION OF PHYCOCYANIN FROM ARTHROSPIRA PLATENSIS a Kurpan, D.P.N.; c Philips, R.; d Lauceri, L.; b Ida, A.; a Schievano, A. a Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambentali, Universita degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy; b Algaria Srl, via Ruggiero Settimo, 20144 Milano, Italy; c Membranology Ltd., Unit D5 Rainbow Business Centre, Swansea, SA7 9FP, UK; d Istituto di Ricerca sulle Acque, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Sede di Verbania, Largo Tonolli 50, 28922 Verbania, Italy Published version AlgaEurope 2022 Roma 13 15/12/2022 Internazionale Contributo Phycocyanin PC is a natural, non toxic dye, with an intense blue color and high fluorescence, applied in cosmetic industries; preventive medicine, as a fluorescent reagent; and over the last years it has been widely disseminated in the food sector 1 . PC is the main accessory photosynthetic pigment of Arthrospira spp. commonly known as Spirulina , composing up to 20% of the microalgae dry biomass 2 . Commercial production of Spirulina is, therefore, frequently used as a source of phycocyanin, to supply the increasing demand for natural food colorings. Although it is a relatively novel industry, various methods of extracting and purifying phycocyanin from different microalgae have been studied 3,4 . Among those, membrane filtration stands out as the technique present in more than half of the patents issued from 2015 to 2021 and a substantial number of research articles published in the same period 5 . Considering the state of the art and future trends observed in literature, this study assesses a 2 step serial tangential membrane filtration prototype with 3 kg DW/day treatment capacity see Graphical abstract . Tests were carried out using a commercial Spirulina biomass A. platensis Algaria Srl , having a total phycocyanin and allophycocyanin another Spirulina bluish accessory pigment concentration of about 135 g / kg DW. The system reached extraction yields of around 100 g PC / kg DW about 75% extraction yield and purity absorbance ratios A620/A280 typically in the range of 1.5 2.5, comparable to laboratory assays reported on literature >1.5 and well above that required for use in the food sector >0.7 . However, the phycocyanin concentration in the liquid extract was considerably low 1 2 g PC /L , compared to the requirements of downstream concentration/drying processes. Assembling extracts of subsequent batch cycles through the ultrafiltration step resulted in a promising way to increase phycocyanin concentration up to 5 10 gPC /L in the final concentrate. Such method is only limited by risks of partial oxidation of the PC solution, due to longer processing times. The tested prototype, when improved by the correct dimensioning and process automation, can be scalable up to industrial purposes for the concentration and purification of phycocyanin. Keywords Microalgae; Spirulina; Phycocyanin; Membrane filtration; Tangential filtration References 1. Luzardo Ocampo I, Ramirez Jimenez AK, Yañez J, Mojica L, Luna Vital DA. Technological applications of natural colorants in food systems A review. Foods. 2021;10 1 34. 2. Marzorati S, Schievano A, Ida A, Verotta L. Carotenoids, chlorophylls and phycocyanin from Spirulina Supercritical CO2 and water extraction methods for added value products cascade. Green Chem. Royal Society of Chemistry; 2020;22 187 96. 3. Prado JM, Veggi PC, Nathia Neves G, Meireles MAA. Extraction Methods for Obtaining Natural Blue Colorants. Curr Anal Chem. 2018;16 504 32. 4. Pez Jaeschke D, Rocha Teixeira I, Damasceno Ferreira Marczak L, Domeneghini Mercali G. Phycocyanin from Spirulina A review of extraction methods and stability. Food Res Int. 2021;143. 5. Bastos I, França JV. Technologic prospection of microalgae from the genus Arthrospira for the production of phycocyanin in industries. 2021. Abstract book AlgaEurope 2022 Abstract book abstract book Algaeurope2022.pdf Abstract in atti di convegno rosaria.lauceri LAUCERI ROSARIA |
