Recent Advances in Supercritical CO2 Extraction of Pigments, Lipids and Bioactive Compounds from Microalgae

Abstract

Supercritical CO2 extraction is a green method that combines economic and environmental benefits. Microalgae, on the other hand, is a biomass in abundance, capable of providing a vast variety of valuable compounds, finding applications in the food industry, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and biofuels. An extensive study on the existing literature concerning supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of microalgae has been carried out focusing on carotenoids, chlorophylls, lipids and fatty acids recovery, as well as the bioactivity of the extracts. Moreover, kinetic models used to describe SFE process and experimental design are included. Finally, biomass pretreatment processes applied prior to SFE are mentioned, and other extraction methods used as benchmarks are also presented.

Co-Dispersion Delivery Systems with Solubilizing Carriers Improving the Solubility and Permeability of Cannabinoids (Cannabidiol, Cannabidiolic Acid, and Cannabichromene) from Cannabis sativa (Henola Variety) Inflorescences

“…Its selectivity, safety, and environmentally friendly characteristics further contribute to its suitability for this purpose [ 85 , 86 ]. Furthermore, the use of CO 2 as a solvent eliminates the need for harsh organic solvents, resulting in a pure extract without the risk of residual solvent contamination [ 87 , 88 , 89 ]. scCO 2 extraction is particularly advantageous for extracting cannabinoids from cannabis plant material due to the lipophilic character of these compounds.…”

The Structure, Functions and Potential Medicinal Effects of Chlorophylls Derived from Microalgae

“…To realize the broad and effective application of natural pigments, the improvement of their extraction methods is a crucial aspect of the extraction process. [34][35][36][37] Other methods…”

A comprehensive review of ultrasonic assisted extraction (UAE) for bioactive components: Principles, advantages, equipment, and combined technologies

“…SFE is an environmentally friendly process that utilizes supercritical fluids as solvents to extract compounds from solid substrates [127] . In the majority of SFE experiments, carbon dioxide is commonly employed as the preferred solvent.…”