Extraction and Concentration of <i>Spirulina</i> Water-Soluble Metabolites by Ultrafiltration

<i>Spirulina</i> (<i>Arthospira platensis</i>) is known for its rich content of natural compounds like phycocyanin, chlorophylls, carotenoids, and high protein levels, making it a nutrient-dense food. Over the past decade, research has aimed to optimize the extraction, separa...

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Main Authors: Claudia Salazar-González, Carolina Mendoza Ramos, Hugo A. Martínez-Correa, Hugo Fabián Lobatón García
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Plants
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/19/2770
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author Claudia Salazar-González
Carolina Mendoza Ramos
Hugo A. Martínez-Correa
Hugo Fabián Lobatón García
author_facet Claudia Salazar-González
Carolina Mendoza Ramos
Hugo A. Martínez-Correa
Hugo Fabián Lobatón García
author_sort Claudia Salazar-González
collection DOAJ
description <i>Spirulina</i> (<i>Arthospira platensis</i>) is known for its rich content of natural compounds like phycocyanin, chlorophylls, carotenoids, and high protein levels, making it a nutrient-dense food. Over the past decade, research has aimed to optimize the extraction, separation, and purification of these valuable metabolites, focusing on technologies such as high-pressure processing, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and microwave-assisted extraction as well as enzymatic treatments, chromatographic precipitation, and membrane separation. In this study, various extraction methods (conventional vs. ultrasound-assisted), solvents (water vs. phosphate buffer), solvent-to-biomass ratios (1:5 vs. 1:10), and ultrafiltration (PES membrane of MWCO 3 kDa, 2 bar) were evaluated. The quantities of total protein, phycocyanin (PC), chlorophyll a (Cla), and total carotenoids (TCC) were measured. The results showed that ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) with phosphate buffer at a 1:10 ratio yielded a metabolite-rich retentate (MRR) with 37.0 ± 1.9 mg/g of PC, 617 ± 15 mg/g of protein, 0.4 ± 0.2 mg/g of Cla, and 0.15 ± 0.14 mg/g of TCC. Water extraction in the concentration process achieved the highest concentrations in MRR, with approximately 76% PC, 92% total protein, 62% Cla, and 41% TCC. These findings highlight the effective extraction and concentration processes to obtain a metabolite-rich retentate from <i>Spirulina</i> biomass, reducing the volume tenfold and showing potential as a functional ingredient for the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.
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spelling doaj-art-d9681c083b2c47e38fe46e912cfe126c2025-08-20T01:47:37ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472024-10-011319277010.3390/plants13192770Extraction and Concentration of <i>Spirulina</i> Water-Soluble Metabolites by UltrafiltrationClaudia Salazar-González0Carolina Mendoza Ramos1Hugo A. Martínez-Correa2Hugo Fabián Lobatón García3Tecnología en Gestión Gastronómica, Universitaria Agustiniana, Bogotá 110831, ColombiaFacultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP), Puebla 72570, MexicoDepartamento de Ingeniería, Facultad de Ingeniería y Administración, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Palmira, Palmira 763531, ColombiaVicerrectoría de Investigaciones, Universitaria Agustiniana, Bogotá 110831, Colombia<i>Spirulina</i> (<i>Arthospira platensis</i>) is known for its rich content of natural compounds like phycocyanin, chlorophylls, carotenoids, and high protein levels, making it a nutrient-dense food. Over the past decade, research has aimed to optimize the extraction, separation, and purification of these valuable metabolites, focusing on technologies such as high-pressure processing, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and microwave-assisted extraction as well as enzymatic treatments, chromatographic precipitation, and membrane separation. In this study, various extraction methods (conventional vs. ultrasound-assisted), solvents (water vs. phosphate buffer), solvent-to-biomass ratios (1:5 vs. 1:10), and ultrafiltration (PES membrane of MWCO 3 kDa, 2 bar) were evaluated. The quantities of total protein, phycocyanin (PC), chlorophyll a (Cla), and total carotenoids (TCC) were measured. The results showed that ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) with phosphate buffer at a 1:10 ratio yielded a metabolite-rich retentate (MRR) with 37.0 ± 1.9 mg/g of PC, 617 ± 15 mg/g of protein, 0.4 ± 0.2 mg/g of Cla, and 0.15 ± 0.14 mg/g of TCC. Water extraction in the concentration process achieved the highest concentrations in MRR, with approximately 76% PC, 92% total protein, 62% Cla, and 41% TCC. These findings highlight the effective extraction and concentration processes to obtain a metabolite-rich retentate from <i>Spirulina</i> biomass, reducing the volume tenfold and showing potential as a functional ingredient for the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/19/2770chlorophyllsconventional extractionphycocyaninprotein<i>Spirulina</i>total carotenoids
spellingShingle Claudia Salazar-González
Carolina Mendoza Ramos
Hugo A. Martínez-Correa
Hugo Fabián Lobatón García
Extraction and Concentration of <i>Spirulina</i> Water-Soluble Metabolites by Ultrafiltration
Plants
chlorophylls
conventional extraction
phycocyanin
protein
<i>Spirulina</i>
total carotenoids
title Extraction and Concentration of <i>Spirulina</i> Water-Soluble Metabolites by Ultrafiltration
title_full Extraction and Concentration of <i>Spirulina</i> Water-Soluble Metabolites by Ultrafiltration
title_fullStr Extraction and Concentration of <i>Spirulina</i> Water-Soluble Metabolites by Ultrafiltration
title_full_unstemmed Extraction and Concentration of <i>Spirulina</i> Water-Soluble Metabolites by Ultrafiltration
title_short Extraction and Concentration of <i>Spirulina</i> Water-Soluble Metabolites by Ultrafiltration
title_sort extraction and concentration of i spirulina i water soluble metabolites by ultrafiltration
topic chlorophylls
conventional extraction
phycocyanin
protein
<i>Spirulina</i>
total carotenoids
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/19/2770
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AT carolinamendozaramos extractionandconcentrationofispirulinaiwatersolublemetabolitesbyultrafiltration
AT hugoamartinezcorrea extractionandconcentrationofispirulinaiwatersolublemetabolitesbyultrafiltration
AT hugofabianlobatongarcia extractionandconcentrationofispirulinaiwatersolublemetabolitesbyultrafiltration