Possibility Evaluation of Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction in Complex Processing of Algae

Introduction: Algae are a valuable source of various biologically active substances (BAS), which are widely used in medicine, food industry, cosmetology and other areas due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Despite the significant potential of algae, there are currently no comprehensive technological solutions that ensure maximum extraction of BAS from this type of raw material using carbon dioxide extraction, and there is no information on the chemical composition and biological activity of algal CO2 extracts. The development of new approaches, including optimization of BAS extraction processes, will be a key factor in increasing the efficiency of algae use and expanding the areas of their application.

Purpose: To evaluate the possibility of sequential use of CO2 and water extractions for the purpose of obtaining polysaccharides during the complex processing of macrophyte algae, which are used in the food industry as thickeners and gelling agents, as well as CO2 extracts containing substances with biological activity.

Materials and Methods: Brown and red algae of the following species were used to get the extracts: Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus distichus, F. vesiculosus, Ahnfeltia plicata, A. tobuchiensis, Vertebrata fucoides. CO2 extracts of algae were obtained using the KOERS1 unit. The composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of the CO2 extracts were compared with alcohol and ether extracts of algae. The composition of the algae extracts was analyzed using modern analytical equipment (Shimadzu GCMS-TQ 8040 gas chromatography mass spectrometry system, Agilent 8890GC System Custom gas chromatograph, Cary 3500 Compact UV-Vis spectrophotometer) using generally accepted techniques. The antimicrobial properties of algae extracts were tested against Salmonella abony, Candida albicans, Proteus vulgaris, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli using the disk diffusion method. The antioxidant activity was assessed in accordance with Russian Patent No. 2170930. Polysaccharides were isolated from algae and meal formed after CO2 extraction by their aqueous extraction at temperatures of 98 and 120°C in a neutral and alkaline environment. 

Results: It was found that the composition of the obtained CO2 extracts of algae is more influenced by the extraction conditions than by the type of algae used. In terms of qualitative composition, CO2 extracts of brown and red macrophyte algae differ mainly in two components: gamma-sitosterol and stigmasta-5,24(28)-dien-3-ol, (3.beta.,24Z). Water-soluble polysaccharides isolated from algal meal were practically no different in their physicochemical characteristics from those isolated from algae.

Conclusion: The possibility of sequential use of CO2 and water extraction for the extraction of BAS and polysaccharides in the complex processing of algae was proved.

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