Rapid detection of haloarchaeal carotenoids via liquid-liquid microextraction enabled direct TLC MALDI-MS

► Nanoparticles have been applied for enhancing haloarchaeal carotenoid production. ► Carotenoids were identified by MALDI MS directly from TLC plates after separation. ► PtNPs assisted LLME was done for rapid identification of carotenoids by MALDI.