Exploring different processes for starch extraction from microalgae and synthesis of starch-chitosan plastic films
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: • New process configurations to refine microalgal starch are described. • Alcalase allows starch refining up to 58 % along with protein hydrolysate extraction. • Sonication in DMSO and starch precipitation in ethanol allows starch purification. • Up to 91 % starch purity and 80 % extraction recovery attained with DMSO extraction. • Chitosan-starch films were produced with purified algal starch and defatted algae. Microalgae could become a more sustainable starch source than conventional crops. However, available refinery processes are lacking. In this study, we develop different innovative processes to refine microalgal starch and obtaining starch-based bioplastics. After lipid extraction, defatted microalgae were treated by different routes: enzymatic treatment with Alcalase; sonication in hot water or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) followed by precipitation with ethanol. Enzymes allows to extract 70 % of proteins while recovering 75 % of the initial starch in the residual pellet, with a purity of 58 %. The most effective configuration based on sonication and water/DMSO extraction allowed to recover up to 80 % starch with 80–91 % purity. Chitosan improved the mechanical properties of the obtained starch-based films. The use of defatted algae or purified starch gave different properties to the films (as rigidity and water stability) showing the possibility to tailor the material characteristics depending on the biorefinery route applied.
Source: Bioresource Technology
Institution: Sapienza University of Rome
Language: English
Subfield: Biomaterials
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,740
OpenAlex ID: W4402700472