Process Optimization of Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Chlorophyll, Carotenoid and Phenolic Compounds from Chlorella vulgaris and Comparison with Conventional and Supercritical Fluid Extraction

The production of bioactive products from microalgae biomass with efficient and environmentally friendly technologies is a field great research interest. present work focuses on the recovery high-added value components Chlorella vulgaris through microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) aq. ethanol 90% v/v. effect temperature (40–60 °C), duration (5–25 min), solvent-to-biomass ratio (20–90 mLsolv/gbiom), microwave power (300–800 watts) was investigated regarding yield, extract’s chlorophyll, carotenoid phenolic content, antioxidant activity. MAE optimization at 60 °C, 300 watts, 14 min, 22 mLsolv/gbiom led to 11.14% w/w 63.36 mg/gextr total chlorophylls, 7.06 selected carotenoids astaxanthin, lutein β-carotene, 24.88 carotenoids, 9.34 mgGA/gextr phenolics, 40.49 mgextr/mgDPPH IC50 (antioxidant activity indicator). Moreover, conventional solid-liquid (SLE) v/v, supercritical fluid (SFE) CO2, as well SFE cosolvent addition (10% ethanol), were also performed for comparison purposes. results revealed that SLE presented highest yield. However, non-conventional methods extracts competitive or even better quality under significantly shorter duration.