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Publication
Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) immobilization in calcium-alginate beads can provide a way to produce food-grade C-phycocyanin following a biorefinery perspective
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
C-phycocyanin (C-PC), a water-soluble blue pigment, is the primary phycobiliprotein in Spirulina. In this study,
Spirulina was immobilized in calcium-alginate (SAC) beads as an innovative method to recover C-PC in the
crosslinking bath while retaining the biomass within the beads. This approach simplifies the separation process
and reduces costs. SAC beads were prepared via ionic gelation with alginate and CaCl2 at 2 % (PC2) and 4 %
(PC4) concentrations. Different Spirulina to CaCl2 (S:CA) ratios (1:33, 1:42, 1:83, 1:125 w:v) were tested. PC4
extracts surpassed the food-grade purity threshold (≥ 0.7), achieving the highest purity of 0.83 at a 1:42 S:CA
ratio. For PC2, the highest purity was 0.68, observed at a 1:83 S:CA ratio. Overall, this method effectively re-
leases C-PC into the CaCl2 bath, attaining food-grade purity with significant extraction yields (> 50 mg/g
biomass). Additionally, the SAC beads exhibited high protein levels (> 25 g/100 g d.w.) and can be further
utilized within a biorefinery framework, either directly as a food supplement or for cascade extractions to recover
the remaining lipid and protein fractions.
Description
Keywords
Calcium-alginate beads Food-grade colorants Microalgal biorefinery Microalgal pigments Phycocyanin
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Barreiro, Filomena; Silva-Pituco, Samara C.; Aquino, Leandro L.; Dias, Madalena M. (2025). Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) immobilization in calcium-alginate beads can provide a way to produce food-grade C-phycocyanin following a biorefinery perspective. Journal of Phycology: An International Journal of Algal Research. ISSN 2211-9264. 86, p. 1-9
Publisher
Elsevier