Process for selectively extracting dyestuffs contained in cyanophyceae algae, the so-extracted dyestuffs and their use, particularly in foodstuffs
AssigneeInstitut Francais du Petrole
InventorsMichel Rebeller, Pierre Yout, Daniel Lonchamp
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Abstract
Process for extracting dyestuffs and particularly a blue pigment, called phycocyanine, from cyanophyceae algae, particularly of the Spirulina species, comprising contacting said algae with a first aqueous phase containing calcium ions, separating therefrom the mass of algae and contacting it with a second aqueous phase of alkaline character, separating the algae therefrom and extracting phycocyanine from said second aqueous phase by subjecting the same to an ultrafiltration step for concentrating the solution and then to a drying step.
Claims19
A process for extracting phycocyanine from Cyanophycae algae, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting fresh Cyanophycae algae with a first aqueous phase containing calcium ions in an amount of from 0.02 to 0.2 ion-gram per liter, at a temperature, from 15.degree. to 45.degree. C., and under such conditions as to render the phycocyanine in said algae amenable to extraction with an aqueous alkaline solution;
- (b) separating resultant mass of algae from said first aqueous phase;
- (c) contacting said separated mass of algae with a second aqueous phase of an alkaline character comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal carbonates, alkali metal bicarbonates, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, the normality thereof being from 0.001 normal to 0.1 normal, at a temperature from 15.degree. to 45.degree. C., for a sufficient time to transfer the phycocyanine from the algae to the second aqueous phase, and
- (d) separating from said second aqueous phase a mass of residual algae, said second aqueous phase containing phycocyanine in a dissolved state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.