Separation and purification of coenzyme Q10 from Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) functions as an essential component of adenosine triphosphate generation in the oxidative phosphorylation chain and as an antioxidant preventing lipid peroxidation and superoxide scavenging. This study focuses on the separation and purification of CoQ10 from wet cells produced by Rhodobacter sphaeroides BCRC 13100. The yields of CoQ10 pretreated using enzyme, ethanol, or high-press homogenizer reached 2.85 mg/g, 2.01 mg/g, and 2.11 mg/g, respectively. The CoQ10 was extracted with various organic solvents. Using ethanol to extract CoQ10 twice directly from the crude cells after fermentation produced a CoQ10 yield of 2.9 mg/g. The crude extract was purified using ethanol extraction, and stripping with hexane, and subsequent crystallization. The purity of CoQ10 determined by means of HPLC reached 96%.