Downstream Process Development for Extraction of Prodigiosin: Statistical Optimization, Kinetics, and Biochemical...

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Natural Products Chemistry
• Process Engineering

Background:

• Prodigiosin, a natural red pigment from Serratia marcescens, faces cost limitations for industrial use.
• Efficient extraction methods are crucial to overcome cost barriers and enable wider applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To optimize ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) parameters for maximizing prodigiosin yield.
• To evaluate the antioxidant properties of prodigiosin for potential industrial applications.

Main Methods:

• Taguchi methodology was employed to optimize solid-to-liquid ratio, sonication duty cycle, acoustic intensity, and medium pH.
• A second-order kinetic model was applied to analyze batch extraction.

Main Results:

• The solid-to-liquid ratio had the most significant impact on prodigiosin yield (36.66%), followed by duty cycle (34.82%), pH (15.7%), and acoustic intensity (12.82%).
• Optimized conditions (0.3 g/mL ratio, 75% duty cycle, 12.5 w/cm², pH 3) increased prodigiosin yield by 4166.89 mg/L.
• The second-order rate constant (k) was determined as 4 × 10⁻⁵ L/mg/min.

Conclusions:

• Taguchi optimization provides an effective strategy for enhancing prodigiosin extraction yield.
• Optimized prodigiosin extraction is suitable for large-scale production and commercialization.
• Prodigiosin's dose-dependent antioxidant and scavenging properties support its use as a food additive and pharmaceutical ingredient.