25 Cosmetics and Cosmeceutical Applications of Microalgae Pigments
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growing biomass in this planet. In addition, many studies have reported biological
activities of marine algae pigments and cosmeceuticals properties of microalgae
natural pigments. For example, phycobiliproteins (phycocyanin and phycoerythrin)
are used as a natural dye in cosmetic industry in Japan. These natural pigments are
considered as safe and non-toxic (Kuddus et al. 2015).
The concentration of natural pigments in microalgae is often too low; hence,
microalgal-based natural pigment production is sometimes non-feasible economically. Production of natural pigments from microalgae requires a comprehensive study and knowledge to select a suitable production strain, various pigments
present in the microalgae with respect to their in vivo roles and the metabolic pathways involved in their synthesis, suitable cultivation conditions, and a strategy for
microalgae strain improvement (Mulders et al. 2014).
25.3.1 Environmental Friendly Technology for Recovery
of Pigments from Microalgae
In addition to natural pigments production, industry and scientist should work out in
sustainable ways to refine natural pigments derived from microalgae (Siahaan et al.
2017). Organic solvent extraction is the most common technique used to isolate
natural pigments from microalgae. Ethanol, methanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate are
the most common solvents used for the extraction of natural pigment. However, the
volume of solvents used in the chemical process is extremely concerning. Organic
solvents are a major contributor to the overall toxicity potential associated with many
industrial processes and to the waste generation of chemical industries. The disposal
of excessive solvent to the environment significantly contributes to the release of
greenhouse gases and other emissions. Therefore, environmental friendly technologies in natural pigments extractions need to be developed. Environmental friendly
technologies such as supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO 2 ), microwave assisted
extraction (MAE), and ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) have been demonstrated
as potential technologies to obtain natural pigments from microalgae (Pangestuti et al.
2018).
The MAE and UAE, both are energy input-assisted extraction methods and have
been used to isolate functional materials for many years. MAE involves the heating
process of a solution in contact with a sample using microwave energy. Different
from classical heating, microwaves heat the sample simultaneously without heating
the vessel. Therefore, the solution reaches its boiling point very rapidly, leading to
very short extraction times. The efficient recovery of natural pigments isolated from
microalgae by environmental friendly technology has been reported (Table 25.1).
Pasquet et al. (2011) compared conventional extraction, MAE, and UAE in pigment
extraction from microalgae. UAE gives higher carotenoids and chlorophyll yield
compared to conventional and MAE. However, MAE offers the advantage of homogeneous thermoregulation of the medium, as no heat transfers are required to heat
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growing biomass in this planet. In addition, many studies have reported biological
activities of marine algae pigments and cosmeceuticals properties of microalgae
natural pigments. For example, phycobiliproteins (phycocyanin and phycoerythrin)
are used as a natural dye in cosmetic industry in Japan. These natural pigments are
considered as safe and non-toxic (Kuddus et al. 2015).
The concentration of natural pigments in microalgae is often too low; hence,
microalgal-based natural pigment production is sometimes non-feasible economically. Production of natural pigments from microalgae requires a comprehensive study and knowledge to select a suitable production strain, various pigments
present in the microalgae with respect to their in vivo roles and the metabolic pathways involved in their synthesis, suitable cultivation conditions, and a strategy for
microalgae strain improvement (Mulders et al. 2014).
25.3.1 Environmental Friendly Technology for Recovery
of Pigments from Microalgae
In addition to natural pigments production, industry and scientist should work out in
sustainable ways to refine natural pigments derived from microalgae (Siahaan et al.
2017). Organic solvent extraction is the most common technique used to isolate
natural pigments from microalgae. Ethanol, methanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate are
the most common solvents used for the extraction of natural pigment. However, the
volume of solvents used in the chemical process is extremely concerning. Organic
solvents are a major contributor to the overall toxicity potential associated with many
industrial processes and to the waste generation of chemical industries. The disposal
of excessive solvent to the environment significantly contributes to the release of
greenhouse gases and other emissions. Therefore, environmental friendly technologies in natural pigments extractions need to be developed. Environmental friendly
technologies such as supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO 2 ), microwave assisted
extraction (MAE), and ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) have been demonstrated
as potential technologies to obtain natural pigments from microalgae (Pangestuti et al.
2018).
The MAE and UAE, both are energy input-assisted extraction methods and have
been used to isolate functional materials for many years. MAE involves the heating
process of a solution in contact with a sample using microwave energy. Different
from classical heating, microwaves heat the sample simultaneously without heating
the vessel. Therefore, the solution reaches its boiling point very rapidly, leading to
very short extraction times. The efficient recovery of natural pigments isolated from
microalgae by environmental friendly technology has been reported (Table 25.1).
Pasquet et al. (2011) compared conventional extraction, MAE, and UAE in pigment
extraction from microalgae. UAE gives higher carotenoids and chlorophyll yield
compared to conventional and MAE. However, MAE offers the advantage of homogeneous thermoregulation of the medium, as no heat transfers are required to heat