abstract
Macroalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms living in saline environments. Included in the natural compounds produced by macroalgae are natural pigments and colorants such as chlorophylls, carotenoids and phycobiliproteins. These may be harvested directly in nature or cultivated in aquaculture systems. Indeed, a major challenge for aquaculture companies is the lack of standardized, accessible techniques that would allow for the qualitatively assessment of the presence of these pigments in algae biomass and derived extracts. Typically, identifying and measuring these pigments requires complex procedures that may be difficult to implement in smaller aquaculture companies in need of a quick and straightforward solution. This study addresses this gap by developing a silica-based material functionalized with ionic liquid for detecting the presence of phycobiliproteins and other pigments in aqueous extracts.
keywords
SOLID-PHASE EXTRACTION; B-PHYCOERYTHRIN; R-PHYCOERYTHRIN; PURIFICATION; ADSORPTION
subject category
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
authors
Kovaleski, G; Neves, MC; Ventura, SPM
our authors
Márcia Carvalho Neves
Junior Researcher
Sónia Patrícia Marques Ventura
Assistant ProfessorGroups
G4 - Renewable Materials and Circular Economy
G5 - Biomimetic, Biological and Living Materials
Projects
CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020)
CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDP/50011/2020)
Associated Laboratory CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (LA/P/0006/2020)
acknowledgements
This work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, UIDB/50011/2020 (DOI:10.54499/UID B/50011/2020) , UIDP/50011/2020 (DOI:10.54499/UIDP/5 0011/2020) & LA/P/0006/2020 (DOI:10.54499/LA/P/0006/2020) , financed by national funds through the FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) . GK thanks the financial support through her PhD grant: BD/REITORIA/9328/2020. M.C.N. acknowledges FCT for the research contract CEE-CIND/00383/2017/CP1459/CT0031 (DOI:10.54499/CEECIND/00383/2017/CP1459/CT0031) under the Scientific Employment Stimulus-Individual Calls.