초록
<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>This study demonstrates the efficacy of low pressure supercritical CO<SUB>2</SUB> extraction of astaxanthin from disrupted <I>Haematococcus pluvialis.</I> A microfluidic reactor was employed that enabled excellent control and allowed direct monitoring of the whole process at the single cell level, in real time. Astaxanthin extraction using ScCO<SUB>2</SUB> achieved 92% recovery at 55 °C and 8 MPa applied over 15 h. With the addition of co-solvents, ethanol and olive oil, the extraction rates in both experiments were significantly improved reaching full recovery within a few minutes. Notably, for the ethanol case, the timescales of extraction process are reduced 1800-fold from 15 h to 30 s at 55 °C and 8 MPa, representing the fastest complete astaxanthin extraction at such low pressures.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Supercritical CO<SUB>2</SUB> extraction of astaxanthin was performed on a microfluidic reactor. </LI> <LI> Astaxanthin extraction using ScCO<SUB>2</SUB> achieved 92% recovery at 55 °C and 8 MPa over 15 h. </LI> <LI> The effect of temperature on extraction rate was investigated from 40 °C to 70 °C. </LI> <LI> With the addition of co-solvents, full recovery was achieved within a few minutes. </LI> </UL> </P>