Method for the extraction of phycobiliproteins at high purity degree from cyanobacterial and/or algal biomasses
AssigneeConsiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche
InventorsRosaria Lauceri, Graziella Chini Zittelli, Giuseppe Torzillo
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Abstract
The object of the invention is a method for extracting, with high yield, phycobiliproteins from cyanobacterial and/or algal biomass, obtaining extracts in water or aqueous solutions characterised by high pigment concentration and a purity degree equal to or greater than the food/cosmetic grade (P≥2). The method is based on a process characterised by a step of breaking down the cyanobacterial/algal cells by ultrasonication in an aqueous solution of ammonium sulphate, and simultaneous extraction of water-soluble compounds other than phycobiliproteins, followed by an extraction step of the phycobiliproteins using water or aqueous solutions.
Claims14
A method for extracting from cyanobacterial and/or algal biomasses phycobiliproteins having a purity degree≥2.0, comprising the steps of
- I) arranging a cyanobacterial and/or algal biomass;
- II) cleaning the cyanobacterial and/or algal biomass, such cleaning step comprising the sub-steps of
- IIa) submitting the cyanobacterial and/or algal biomass to cell lysis by ultrasonication, said cyanobacterial and/or algal biomass being suspended in an aqueous cleaning solution of ammonium sulphate having a concentration between 0.4 and 2.0 M, to obtain a biomass lysed suspension;
- IIb) separating from the suspension of the lysed biomass the cleaning solution and isolating the precipitate of the lysed biomass, such precipitate being a cleaned sample of the biomass wherein the phycobiliproteins are trapped in the lysed cells of the cyanobacterial and/or algal biomass;
- III) extracting the phycobiliproteins from the biomass cleaned sample, said extraction step comprising the sub-steps of
- IIIa) suspending the biomass cleaned sample in an extracting solution selected from water and aqueous solutions, to obtain a suspension of the biomass cleaned sample;
- IIIb) separating from the suspension of the biomass cleaned sample the extracting solution and isolating the supernatant, to obtain a crude extract of phycobiliproteins.
A method for extracting from cyanobacterial and/or algal biomasses phycobiliproteins having a purity degree≥2.0, comprising the steps of
- I) arranging a cyanobacterial and/or algal biomass;
- II) cleaning the cyanobacterial and/or algal biomass, such cleaning step comprising the sub-steps of
- IIa) submitting the cyanobacterial and/or algal biomass to cell lysis by ultrasonication, said cyanobacterial and/or algal biomass being suspended in an aqueous cleaning solution of ammonium sulphate having a concentration between 0.4 and 2.0 M, to obtain a biomass lysed suspension;
- IIb) separating from the suspension of the lysed biomass the cleaning solution and isolating the precipitate of the lysed biomass, such precipitate being a cleaned sample of the biomass wherein the phycobiliproteins are trapped in the lysed cells of the cyanobacterial and/or algal biomass;
- III) extracting the phycobiliproteins from the biomass cleaned sample, said extraction step comprising the sub-steps of
- IIIa) suspending the biomass cleaned sample in an extracting solution selected from water and aqueous solutions, to obtain a suspension of the biomass cleaned sample, wherein the extraction aqueous solutions are selected from inorganic salt aqueous solutions, buffer aqueous solutions, carbohydrates aqueous solutions and polyol aqueous solutions,
- and wherein the inorganic salts are selected from sodium chloride and calcium chloride;
- IIIb) separating from the suspension of the biomass cleaned sample the extracting solution and isolating the supernatant, to obtain a crude extract of phycobiliproteins.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.