Extraction and purification of C-phycocyanin from Spirulina platensis in conventional and integrated aqueous two-phase systems

Abstract

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. © 2010 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.