A Review on the Extraction of Chlorophyll and Carotenoids from Microalgae

Chlorophyll and carotenoids are essential compounds in many everyday products. These substances are used not only as an additive in pharmaceutical and health products but also as a natural food coloring. In addition, they have antioxidant and anti-mutagenic properties. Extraction of these compounds is based on cell degradation methods and the chemical solubility of the compounds. Methods of separation of these compounds include chromatographic, solvent, supercritical, enzymatic, ultrasound, and microwave methods. One of the most important issues related to the extraction of chlorophyll and carotenoids from microalgae in the culture medium is the need for an efficient, cost-effective, and high-yield extraction process. The greatest limitation in the biological processing of pigments is related to the installation of equipment and operation. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the main methods for the extraction of chlorophyll and carotenoids from microalgae by considering the advantages and disadvantages of each method.