Extraction of valuable compounds from Arthrospira platensis using pulsed electric field treatment

Pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment was evaluated for phycocyanin and proteins extraction from Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina platensis). PEF extractions were performed using different specific energies (28, 56 and 122 J center dot ml(-1) of suspension) and the results were compared to the extraction with bead milling. At highest PEFtreatment energies a damage of the cell morphology could be observed and the highest yields (up to 85.2 +/- 5.7 mg center dot g(-1) and 48.4 +/- 4.4 g center dot 100 g(-1) of phycocyanins and proteins, respectively) could be obtained at 122 and 56 J center dot ml(-1). The yields increased with incubation time after PEF-treatment. The antioxidant capacity of the extracts obtained after PEF-treatment was higher than of those obtained after bead milling. PEF treatment is a promising technology to obtain blue-green antioxidant extracts from A. platensis in an environmental friendly process.