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Strategy comparison for purifying phycocyanin from microplastic-contaminated Spirulina platensis: A dual evaluation of product quality and microplastic removal
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Researchers developed integrated purification strategies combining activated carbon adsorption and ammonium sulfate precipitation to recover phycocyanin from microplastic-contaminated Spirulina platensis, finding that the AC-AS method reduced polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon-6, and PET residues to just 2.81% while maintaining food-grade purity.
Microplastic contamination in Spirulina platensis (S. platensis)-derived foods poses significant safety risks, yet previous phycocyanin purification processes lack targeted microplastic removal strategies. This study developed integrated purification strategies, including activated carbon adsorption (AC), liquid biphasic flotation, ammonium sulfate precipitation (AS), and their combinations, to recover phycocyanin from microplastic-contaminated S. platensis. The effectiveness of purification processes wascompared in terms of yield, purity (A/A), microplastic residual rates, and processing time. Microplastic residues were quantified using Raman imaging and Py-GC/MS. The results indicated that the AC-AS and AS-AS methods effectively reduced the residues of polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon-6, and polyethylene terephthalate to 2.81 % and 2.58 %, respectively, through density gradient separation. Moreover, both processes achieved food-grade purity (∼1.3) and higher yield (50.25-50.64 mg/g), outperforming other approaches. Considering efficiency and time cost, the AC-AS method was found to be optimal. This work provides strategies for producing food-grade phycocyanin and mitigating microplastic contamination in the food industry.
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Scientists studied the effects of micro and nanoplastics on Spirulina, a nutritional algae widely used as a food supplement, over a 50-day period. The plastic particles slowed Spirulina growth, damaged cell surfaces, and initially reduced the quality and quantity of phycocyanin, a valuable blue pigment. Since Spirulina is consumed by humans as a health food, microplastic contamination in algae culture environments could affect the quality and safety of these supplements.
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Researchers found that both polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics reduced the growth rate and affected the nutritional quality of Spirulina algae over 30 days of exposure. These effects have implications for aquaculture operations where microplastic contamination of algal cultures is a growing concern.
Impacts of polyethylene microplastics on the microalga, Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis)
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This study examined how polyethylene microplastics affect Spirulina, a widely cultivated blue-green algae used in food and supplements. Researchers found that at higher concentrations, microplastics reduced Spirulina growth and caused oxidative stress, while the algae also physically entangled with the plastic particles. The findings suggest that microplastic contamination could threaten both natural algal ecosystems and the commercial production of this important food source.
Microplastic removal in aquatic systems using extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of microalgae
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Researchers tested whether extracellular polymeric substances produced by microalgae could remove microplastics from water. Among four microalgae strains tested under stress conditions, Spirulina produced the most polymeric substances and formed the largest aggregates with microplastic particles. The study suggests that microalgae-based bioremediation could offer a sustainable, low-cost approach to reducing microplastic contamination in water sources.
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