Astaxanthin and eicosapentaenoic acid production by S4, a new mutant strain of Nannochloropsis gaditana

Table 2 Carotenoid extraction efficiency in different solvents

Solvent	No pre-treatment (%)	High-pressure homogenizer (%)	Sonication (%)	Microwaves (%)
DMSO	100.0	100.0	100.0	100
Acetone	35.8	100.0	49.2	37.9
Ethyl-acetate	29.0	75.8	40.6	32.2
Methanol	38.1	98.1	85.4	79.2
Ethanol	37.7	79.3	54.2	69.5
Mineral oil	13.5	39.3	14.3	14.6
Soybean oil	14.0	20.6	16.4	16.0

Carotenoid extraction efficiency were estimated for the different solvents by comparing the absorption spectra of the extracts with the absorption spectrum of DMSO extracts, used as control. Carotenoid contribution to pigments absorption were determined by absorption spectrum deconvolution with carotenoids and chlorophyll a absorption forms

ISSN: 1475-2859