title: Stability of carotenoids in Scenedesmus almeriensis biomass and extracts under various storage conditions.
abstract: Scenedesmus almeriensis biomass is a source of carotenoids, particularly lutein, and is considered to be promising as an alternative source to marigold. One key question concerning alternative sources of lutein is the loss of carotenoids that takes place between harvesting and processing, which in the case of marigold is frequently up to 50%. The work described here involved a study into the stability of the main carotenoids (lutein, violaxanthin, and beta-carotene), as well as other components, under different storage conditions. The experiments were carried out with biomass in three forms: frozen, freeze-dried, and spray-dried. The stability of extracts of Scenedesmus biomass in acetone and olive oil was also studied. The results show that the most important factor in retaining carotenoids is a low temperature. At -18 degrees C the loss of carotenoids was negligible after the storage period, regardless of the biomass form used (frozen, freeze-dried, or spray-dried). On the other hand, the carotenoid content and fatty acid profile was increasingly affected with increasing temperature. However, the protein content is unaffected by storage conditions.
authors.affiliation: Departament of Chemical Engineering, University of Almería, E-04071, Almería, Spain. mcceron@ual.es
authors.forename: María del Carmen
authors.initials: Mdel C
authors.lastname: Cerón-García
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Campos-Pérez
authors.forename: María Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Macías-Sánchez
authors.forename: Ruperto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bermejo-Román
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fernández-Sevilla
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Molina-Grima
mesh_terms: D020418:Algal Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D018533:Biomass; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D005612:Freeze Drying; D044444:Scenedesmus / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D020418:Algal Proteins; D005227:Fatty Acids; D002338:Carotenoids