Abstract

ANTELO, Francine S.; ANSCHAU, Andréia; COSTA, Jorge A. V.  and  KALIL, Susana J.. Extraction and purification of C-phycocyanin from Spirulina platensis in conventional and integrated aqueous two-phase systems. J. Braz. Chem. Soc. [online]. 2010, vol.21, n.5, pp. 921-926. ISSN 0103-5053.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50532010000500022.

Crude C-phycocyanin extracts from Spirulina platensis, with and without cell debris, were purified in aqueous two-phase systems ( ATPS) varying the molar mass of the PEG, at pH 6, more promising than at pH 7 . For the assays carried out with each molar mass, with distinct percentages of PEG and salt, the concentrations (mg mL^-1), purities (OD 620/OD 280) and C-phycocyanin partition coefficients of each system were determined and compared. The process for the primary purification of intracellular C-phycocyanin with cell debris (integrated), composed of 15% of PEG 1500 and 13% of potassium phosphate and 5% of PEG 4000 and 18% of salt, produced C-phycocyanin concentrations of, respectively, 1.60 and 2.67 mg mL^-1 in the top phase. The purities were of 0.73 and 0.79 respectively, values higher than those obtained in the systems without cells.

Keywords : C-phycocyanin; aqueous two-phase system; purity; protein; polyethylene glycol.