Production of Phycocyanin Natural Blue Dye of Algal Origin and Evaluation of Different Extraction and Purification Methods

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty of Natural Resources and Desert Study, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

2 Department of Biology, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

3 Department of electrical engineering, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK

10.48308/pae.2025.240991.1119

Abstract

Phycocyanin's potential as a natural dye is indeed promising, especially considering the harmful side effects associated with artificial food colors. Its high antioxidant properties make it a valuable ingredient in various industries, including food, pharmaceutical, and beauty. Phycocyanin, a blue pigment extracted from Spirulina platensis, is a phycobiliprotein known for its diverse pharmacological benefits. Its natural origin and functional properties make it a promising alternative to synthetic food colorants, and continued research into its applications may provide safer and healthier options for consumers. The comparison of the freeze-thaw and phosphate buffer extraction methods in this study sheds light on the efficiency and effectiveness of different extraction techniques for obtaining phycocyanin. The exploration of salt concentrations as a means to enhance purity index and product yield provides valuable insights into optimizing extraction processes. Additionally, the use of chitosan, activated charcoal, and sodium citrate for purification further demonstrates the importance of refining and purifying phycocyanin for various applications. Overall, the study's findings contribute to the understanding of extraction and purification methods for phycocyanin, offering potential strategies for improving the quality and yield of this natural pigment. The outcomes of this research project indicate that the purity index of phycocyanin obtained through the freeze-thaw method surpasses that achieved via the phosphate buffer method. Moreover, the results from the sodium chloride salt method, when compared to the control, demonstrate that the purity of phycocyanin can be enhanced with increasing concentrations of salt, reaching up to1 M. Furthermore, activated charcoal has been identified as the most effective substance for phycocyanin purification, significantly enhancing the purity of the blue color among three purification methods evaluated, which include chitosan, activated charcoal, and sodium citrate. Under optimal conditions, the extracted phycocyanin exhibits the highest concentration of 5.12 mg/mL, a purity index of R: 1.17, and a production efficiency of 11.8%. Future studies should aim to scale up the optimized extraction and purification processes, evaluating the economic feasibility for industrial production, and evaluate the stability and functionality of the purified phycocyanin within specific food and cosmetic applications.

Keywords

References

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Plant, Algae, and Environment
Volume 9, Issue 3
DOi
September 2025
Pages 50-60

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