Department of Chemical and Environmental Technology. ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Tulipán S/n, 28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
Juan J. Espada
Department of Chemical, Energy and Mechanical Technology. ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Tulipán S/n, 28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
Victoria Morales
Department of Chemical and Environmental Technology. ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Tulipán S/n, 28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
Rosalía Rodríguez
Department of Chemical, Energy and Mechanical Technology. ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Tulipán S/n, 28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
Gemma Vicente
Department of Chemical, Energy and Mechanical Technology. ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Tulipán S/n, 28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Tecnologías para la Sostenibilidad, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Tulipán S/n, 28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
Luis Fernando Bautista
Department of Chemical and Environmental Technology. ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Tulipán S/n, 28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Tecnologías para la Sostenibilidad, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Tulipán S/n, 28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain; Corresponding author. Department of Chemical and Environmental Technology. ESCET, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos. Tulipán S/n, 28933, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain.
Phycoerythrin (PE) extraction from Porphyridium sp. was studied employing ultrasound-assisted extraction combined with aqueous mixtures of two imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) simultaneously, marking a significant novelty. A face-centred central composite design and response surface optimised PE yield (EPE), considering the effects of ionic liquid concentration (IL), [Emim][EtSO4]/[Bmim][EtSO4] mass ratio (E/B), biomass concentration (BM), and time (t). Improvements in EPE by 300 % and 115 % were achieved compared to a phosphate buffer solution and the freeze-thaw method, respectively. Temperature and pH effects were examined independently, leading to the determination of optimal operating conditions: BM = 10 mg mL−1, IL = 18.6 wt%, E/B = 0.78/0.22, t = 10 min, T = 35 °C, and pH = 7.5. Results indicated the potential for reusing the ILs for at least five consecutive extraction cycles, maintaining an EPE of 94.2 % compared to fresh ones. This underscores the success and innovation of the developed technology in enhancing PE extraction from Porphyridium sp.
