Proteins Extraction and Characterization in Spirulina Biomass: A Comparative Study of High-Pressure Homogenization...

Area of Science:

• * Biotechnology and Food Science
• * Sustainable Protein Production
• * Microalgal Biomass Utilization

Background:

• * Growing demand for sustainable protein sources drives interest in microalgae like Limnospira platensis (Spirulina).
• * Spirulina's cell wall impedes efficient protein extraction, limiting its application.
• * Conventional alkaline extraction methods suffer from low yields and high solvent use.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To compare the efficiency and functional properties of Spirulina proteins extracted via alkaline extraction versus high-pressure homogenization (HPH).
• * To evaluate the impact of varying HPH pressures (20-100 MPa) on protein recovery and characteristics.
• * To assess the potential of HPH as an optimized method for Spirulina protein isolation.

Main Methods:

• * Proteins extracted using alkaline method and HPH at 20, 50, 80, and 100 MPa.
• * Isoelectric precipitation used to separate proteins into precipitate and supernatant fractions.
• * Characterization included yield, solubility, phycobiliproteins, emulsifying/foaming properties, water/oil holding capacity, thermal stability, and rheology.

Main Results:

• * HPH at 50 MPa increased protein yield by 28% compared to alkaline extraction.
• * Optimized HPH significantly improved protein solubility, oil-holding capacity, foaming, and emulsion properties.
• * HPH enhanced recovery and purity of phycobiliproteins, including C-phycocyanin, in supernatant fractions.

Conclusions:

• * High-pressure homogenization (HPH) is a promising method for extracting Spirulina proteins with superior functional properties.
• * Optimizing HPH pressure is crucial to maximize protein recovery and functionality while minimizing denaturation.
• * HPH offers a more efficient and potentially sustainable alternative to conventional alkaline extraction for Spirulina protein isolation.