Extraction of antioxidant compounds and pigments from spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) assisted by pulsed electric fields and the binary mixture of organic solvents and water

What happens when you zap microalgae with electric fields before extracting their hidden treasures? You unlock a remarkably efficient way to harvest powerful natural antioxidants.

Unlocking the microscopic vault of microalgae just got an electric upgrade. Scientists evaluated how a pulsed electric field pre-treatment at 3 kV/cm and 100 kJ/kg could boost the recovery of valuable pigments and antioxidants from spirulina. By poking microscopic holes in cell membranes through electroporation, this innovative technology makes extraction remarkably efficient.

When paired with a 50:50 mixture of ethanol and water over an extraction period of 60 to 120 minutes, the results hit the sweet spot. Notably, the electric pre-treatment shined brightest at very short extraction times of just 5 to 15 minutes, proving its impressive speed.

Compared to conventional shaking methods without electricity, this approach successfully recovered massive fractions: 55 to 60 percent for chlorophylls, an impressive 85 to 90 percent for carotenoids, and 60 to 70 percent for total phenolic compounds. Ultimately, this green technology proves to be both environmentally sustainable and economically promising for future bioactive extractions.

Key Points

• Pulsed electric fields enhance microalgae cell membrane electroporation.
• Ethanol and water mixture combined with PEF yielded optimal results.
• PEF extraction achieved high recovery rates particularly at short times.