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Journals / Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 17 Sayı: 1

Comparative Analysis of Solvent Systems and Extraction Techniques for Phycocyanin Recovery from Spirulina sp. Powder

Spirulina sp. Tozundan Fikosiyanin Elde Edilmesinde Çözücü Sistemleri ve Ekstraksiyon Tekniklerinin Karşılaştırmalı Analizi

Serkan Çiftçi(BURDUR MEHMET AKİF ERSOY ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0009-0003-2012-8896
Seyit Yuzuak(BURDUR MEHMET AKİF ERSOY UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-2017-0387
Pages
48–65
Publication Date
2026-06-30
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Overall, extraction efficiency and pigment stability were highly dependent on both solvent composition and extraction strategy, highlighting the importance of optimizing extraction conditions for industrial-scale phycocyanin recovery.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Phycocyanin (PC), a high-value blue phycobiliprotein derived from Spirulina sp., has attracted considerable industrial interest due to its broad applications in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and biotechnological sectors.
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Key Findings & Data:Different solvent systems and four consecutive extraction cycles were assessed in terms of phycocyanin content, purity, yield, total protein concentration, visual appearance, and CIE Lab* color characteristics.
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Conclusion & Impact:Overall, extraction efficiency and pigment stability were highly dependent on both solvent composition and extraction strategy, highlighting the importance of optimizing extraction conditions for industrial-scale phycocyanin recovery.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:spirulina · fikosiyanin · ekstraksiyon yöntemleri

Abstract

Phycocyanin (PC), a high-value blue phycobiliprotein derived from Spirulina sp., has attracted considerable industrial interest due to its broad applications in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and biotechnological sectors. In this study, conventional and green extraction approaches, including freeze–thawing, solvent-based extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, and supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) extraction, were comparatively evaluated for PC recovery from dried Spirulina sp. powder. Different solvent systems and four consecutive extraction cycles were assessed in terms of phycocyanin content, purity, yield, total protein concentration, visual appearance, and CIE Lab* color characteristics. Significant differences among extraction methods, solvent systems, and extraction cycles were observed (p < 0.05). Ultrasound-assisted extraction using sodium phosphate buffer produced the highest phycocyanin yield (480 mg/g), whereas freeze–thawing extraction provided comparatively lower yields but higher pigment purity and stability. Solvent polarity strongly influenced extraction performance, with buffered aqueous systems generally exhibiting superior pigment retention and chromatic stability compared with organic solvents. Microwave-assisted extraction promoted pigment degradation due to thermal stress, while SC-CO₂ extraction showed limited phycocyanin selectivity under the tested conditions. Overall, extraction efficiency and pigment stability were highly dependent on both solvent composition and extraction strategy, highlighting the importance of optimizing extraction conditions for industrial-scale phycocyanin recovery.

Özet

Spirulina türlerinden elde edilen yüksek değerli mavi bir fikobiliprotein olan fikosiyanin (PC), gıda, ilaç, kozmetik ve biyoteknoloji sektörlerindeki geniş uygulama alanları nedeniyle endüstride büyük ilgi görmektedir. Bu çalışmada, kurutulmuş Spirulina sp. tozundan PC geri kazanımı için dondurma-çözme, çözücü bazlı ekstraksiyon, ultrason destekli ekstraksiyon, mikrodalga destekli ekstraksiyon ve süperkritik karbondioksit (SC-CO₂) ekstraksiyonu dahil olmak üzere geleneksel ve yeşil ekstraksiyon yaklaşımları karşılaştırmalı olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Farklı çözücü sistemleri ve dört ardışık ekstraksiyon döngüsü, fikosiyanin içeriği, saflık, verim, toplam protein konsantrasyonu, görsel görünüm ve CIE Lab* renk özellikleri açısından değerlendirilmiştir. Ekstraksiyon yöntemleri, çözücü sistemleri ve ekstraksiyon döngüleri arasında anlamlı farklılıklar gözlemlenmiştir (p < 0,05). Sodyum fosfat tamponu kullanılarak yapılan ultrason destekli ekstraksiyon en yüksek fikosiyanin verimini (480 mg/g) sağlarken, dondurma-çözme ekstraksiyonu nispeten daha düşük verim, ancak daha yüksek pigment saflığı ve stabilitesi sağlamıştır. Çözücü polaritesi ekstraksiyon performansını güçlü bir şekilde etkilemiştir; tamponlu sulu sistemler, organik çözücülere kıyasla genel olarak üstün pigment tutma ve kromatik stabilite göstermiştir. Mikrodalga destekli ekstraksiyon, termal stres nedeniyle pigment bozulmasını teşvik ederken, SC-CO₂ ekstraksiyonu test edilen koşullar altında sınırlı fikosiyanin seçiciliği göstermiştir. Sonuç olarak, bu çalışmada ekstraksiyon verimliliği ve pigment stabilitesinin hem çözücü bileşimine hem de ekstraksiyon stratejisine büyük ölçüde bağlı olduğu gösterilmiştir. Bu sonuç endüstriyel ölçekte fikosiyanin geri kazanımı için ekstraksiyon koşullarının optimize edilmesinin önemini ortaya koymaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Çiftçi, S., Yuzuak, S. (2026). Comparative Analysis of Solvent Systems and Extraction Techniques for Phycocyanin Recovery from Spirulina sp. Powder. Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü Dergisi, Cilt: 17 Sayı: 1, 48–65. https://doi.org/10.29048/makufebed.1950944

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