Preparative isolation and purification of astaxanthin from the microalga Chlorococcum sp. by high-speed counter-current chromatography

H B Li; F Chen

doi:10.1016/s0021-9673(01)01022-6

Preparative isolation and purification of astaxanthin from the microalga Chlorococcum sp. by high-speed counter-current chromatography

J Chromatogr A. 2001 Aug 3;925(1-2):133-7. doi: 10.1016/s0021-9673(01)01022-6.

Authors

H B Li¹, F Chen

Affiliation

¹ Department of Botany, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

PMID: 11519799
DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9673(01)01022-6

Abstract

High-speed counter-current chromatography was applied to the isolation and purification of astaxanthin from microalgae. The crude astaxanthin was obtained by extraction with organic solvents after the astaxanthin esters were saponified. Preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography with a two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-ethanol-water (5:5:6.5:3, v/v) was successfully performed yielding astaxanthin at 97% purity from 250 mg of the crude extract in a one-step separation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Chlorophyta / chemistry*
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
Countercurrent Distribution / methods*
Xanthophylls
beta Carotene / analogs & derivatives*
beta Carotene / isolation & purification*

Substances

Xanthophylls
beta Carotene
astaxanthine