Research led by Jing Gao from Guangdong Ocean University has investigated extracting astaxanthin from shrimp waste using aqueous biphasic systems. Shrimp waste contains a substantial amount of valuable nutrients, presenting a challenge and opportunity for the nutrition sector.
In this study, the aqueous biphasic systems (ABS) was composed of ionic liquids (ILs) and potassium phosphate (K3PO4). The influence of phosphonium- and ammonium-based ILs and temperature on the phase behaviour and astaxanthin extraction was evaluated.
Findings
The hydrogen-bond basicity of each IL studied showed a negative linear correlation with tie-line lengths of ABS and a positive linear correlation with extraction efficiency (EEAst).
It was also found that, in general, lower temperature are favourable for astaxanthin extraction.
With regard to reactants, tributyloctylphosphonium bromide ([P4448]Br) resulted in the strongest ABS formation ability and bonding interactions between the anion and astaxanthin. Compared with organic solvents, [P4448]Br + K3PO4 ABS achieved higher EEAst of 93.08% at 308 K. The chemical properties provide the possibility of prescreening appropriate ILs for ABS formation and predicting the partition of a target molecule.
The full paper can be found online, published in Food Chemistry.
