Carotenoid and lipid extraction from Heterochlorella luteoviridis using moderate electric field and ethanol

•An alternative carotenoid and lipid extraction method from microalgae was studied.•Moderate electric field was evaluated as a pre-treatment to the extraction.•Ethanol at different concentrations was evaluated as extraction solvent.•Extraction was enhanced by high voltages and ethanol concentrations.•The methodology showed to be attractive for carotenoid and lipid extraction.

This study evaluated the effect of moderate electric field (MEF) and ethanol concentration on carotenoid and lipid extraction from the microalgae Heterochlorella luteoviridis. The extraction was performed using 0-180 V and 25 mL/100 mL of ethanol/water solution during 10 min of pretreatment, followed by a diffusive step using 25-75 mL/100 mL of ethanol/water solution during 50 min. Carotenoid and lipid content analyses were performed on the supernatant after each extraction process. Results showed that MEF and ethanol concentration affected carotenoid extraction, while lipid extraction was only affected by ethanol concentration. The application of MEF combined with ethanol as solvent (180 V, 75 mL/100 mL of ethanol solution) yielded up to 73% of carotenoid extraction, proving to be an attractive alternative method to extract these compounds from the microalgae Heterochlorella luteoviridis biomass. The highest lipid extraction yield (83%) was achieved when 75 mL/100 mL of ethanol solution was used.

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