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. 2018;30(2):1281-1293.
doi: 10.1007/s10811-017-1319-8. Epub 2017 Oct 28.

Biorefinery of the macroalgae Ulva lactuca: extraction of proteins and carbohydrates by mild disintegration

P R Postma  1 , O Cerezo-Chinarro  1 , R J Akkerman  1 , G Olivieri  1   2 , R H Wijffels  1   3 , W A Brandenburg  4 , M H M Eppink  1
Affiliations

Biorefinery of the macroalgae Ulva lactuca: extraction of proteins and carbohydrates by mild disintegration

P R Postma et al. J Appl Phycol. 2018.

Abstract

The effect of osmotic shock, enzymatic incubation, pulsed electric field, and high shear homogenization on the release of water-soluble proteins and carbohydrates from the green alga Ulva lactuca was investigated in this screening study. For osmotic shock, both temperature and incubation time had a significant influence on the release with an optimum at 30 °C for 24 h of incubation. For enzymatic incubation, pectinase demonstrated being the most promising enzyme for both protein and carbohydrate release. Pulsed electric field treatment was most optimal at an electric field strength of 7.5 kV cm-1 with 0.05 ms pulses and a specific energy input relative to the released protein as low as 6.6 kWh kgprot-1. Regarding literature, this study reported the highest protein (~ 39%) and carbohydrate (~ 51%) yields of the four technologies using high shear homogenization. Additionally, an energy reduction up to 86% was achieved by applying a novel two-phase (macrostructure size reduction and cell disintegration) technique.

Keywords: Enzymes; High shear homogenization; Macroalgae; Osmotic shock; Protein; Pulsed electric field.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Overview of protein and carbohydrate yields as a function of temperature and duration following osmotic shock. Biomass concentration 10 gDW kg−1. Error bars show the standard deviation, n = 2
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Protein and carbohydrate yields for Control “C”, “0.5%DW”, and “2%DW” enzyme dosage using Cellulase Onozuka RS (a), Pectinase Macerozyme R-10 (b), Cellulase + Pectinase (c), β-glucuronidase (d), and abalone powder (e). Error bars show the standard deviation, n = 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Protein yield (a) and carbohydrate yield (b) as a function of electric field strength and pulse duration during PEF treatment. * Significant difference from control (0 kV cm−1). Error bars show the standard deviation, n = 2
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
3D mesh plots of protein yield using uncut “F” (a), 3 × 4 cm pieces “FC” (c), 1 × 1 cm pieces “FC2” (e), biomass and carbohydrate yields using uncut “F” (b), 3 × 4 cm pieces “FC” (d), 1 × 1 cm pieces “FC2” (f) biomass. Color coding in the legend represents the protein and carbohydrate yield (%). Protein and carbohydrate content measured in the supernatant after 40 min of disintegration, n = 2
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Protein yield (%) as a function of the specific energy consumption (kWh kgDW −1). Single rotor speed (one phase) of 21 m s−1 compared to two-phase (a) and maximal protein and carbohydrate yield for the two-phase experiments at 21–16 and 21–11 m s−1 (b) for a fixed biomass concentration of 10.7 g kg−1. Error bars show the standard deviation, n = 2
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
SEM pictures of U. lactuca thallus before treatment (a, b, c, d), after PMC-R10 treatment (e, f), after abalone treatment (g,h), and after HSH (i, j)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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