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A new approach on astaxanthin extraction via acid hydrolysis of wet Haematococcus pluvialis biomass

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Abstract

Astaxanthin is attracting considerable interest due to its high inhibitory power of oxidative stress in humans and can be produced by the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis. However, the highly physicochemical resistant cell wall of H. pluvialis poses an important challenge in extracting intracellular compounds. We therefore conducted a multiple variable evaluation of acid hydrolysis for cell disruption of wet H. pluvialis biomass, followed by solid–liquid extraction with GRAS (generally recognized as safe) solvents. Preliminary tests selected hydrochloric acid as the most suitable acid for hydrolysis and acetone as the most appropriate solvent for solid–liquid extraction. A central composite design and response surface model were utilized to predict the best conditions for astaxanthin recovery. The variables evaluated were acid concentration (0.5–4.5 N), hydrolysis time (3.2–16.8 min), and temperature (56–84 °C). The highest astaxanthin recovery (99 ± 0.48%) was achieved with the following condition: temperature (T) of 71 °C, time (t) of 17 min, and [HCl] = 3.7 N. The model indicates that high astaxanthin recovery (97%) can be achieved while reducing [HCl] to 2.3 N, positively impacting the cost and safety of this method. Despite the high solubility of astaxanthin in non-polar solvents, the wet cells of H. pluvialis favored the diffusion of solvents with higher water miscibility. Acid hydrolysis, even under the optimal conditions, did not cause total cell wall rupture, indicating that solvent accessibility occurred through microperforations in the cell wall. Overall, the results establish a more profound understanding on conditions for efficient processing of wet H. pluvialis biomass directly from harvesting operation.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge with gratitude the support of the Brazilian National Council of Scientific and Technological Development—CNPq Projects 425125/2018-1, 454669/2014-3. and the Araucaria Foundation—Support for Scientific and Technological Development of Parana. They also thank the Federal University of Parana (UFPR) and the Technology Sector from UFPR for infrastructural support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós Graduação em Engenharia Química, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, 89065-300, Brazil

    Henrique Vechio

  2. Departamento de Engenharia Elétrica, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, 89065-300, Brazil

    André Bellin Mariano

  3. Faculdade de Engenharia Química, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, 38408-144, Brazil

    Rafael Bruno Vieira

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  1. Henrique Vechio
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  2. André Bellin Mariano
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  3. Rafael Bruno Vieira
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Correspondence to Rafael Bruno Vieira.

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Vechio, H., Mariano, A.B. & Vieira, R.B. A new approach on astaxanthin extraction via acid hydrolysis of wet Haematococcus pluvialis biomass. J Appl Phycol 33, 2957–2966 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-021-02495-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-021-02495-z

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