| abstract |
There is provided a method of separating free-astaxanthin selectively from green algae and, more particularly, to a method of separating free-astaxanthin selectively from Haematococcus pluvialis, the method comprising: mixing a cell culture containing Haematococcus pluvialis with an alkanic solvent and stirring, thereby obtaining an alkanic solvent extract containing astaxanthin material including free-astaxanthin and astaxanthin ester (step 1 ); and mixing the alkanic solvent extract with an alcohol and stirring, thereby obtaining an alcoholic extract containing free-astaxanthin (step 2 ). The present invention can not only maximize the efficiency of separating astaxanthin in high concentration by providing a very simple process technique capable of recovering free-astaxanthin selectively from H. pluvialis culture with high efficiency, but also realize the economical and simple operation of the process of separating free-astaxanthin by repeatedly using an alkanic solvent as a mediating solvent for extracting free-astaxanthin. Such a separation method can be used in extracting and separating a carotinoid analogue containing astaxanthin from a useful microalgae culture in addition to Haematococcus species. |