An Integrated Biorefinery Process to Revalorize Marine Biomass from the Microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana Using Pressurized Green Solvents

Cristina Blanco-Llamero; Paz García-García; Francisco Javier Señoráns

doi:10.3390/md23070263

journal article Open Access Jun 23, 2025

An Integrated Biorefinery Process to Revalorize Marine Biomass from the Microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana Using Pressurized Green Solvents

Cristina Blanco-Llamero

Paz García-García

Francisco Javier Señoráns

Marine Drugs Vol. 23 No. 7 pp. 263 · MDPI AG

View at Publisher Save 10.3390/md23070263

Abstract

Biorefinery is gaining attention as a promising approach to valorize natural resources and promote a circular bioeconomy. This study aimed to recover high-value molecules, such as xanthophylls and polar lipids with nutraceutical applications, through enzymatic pretreatment and sequential pressurized liquid extraction (PLEseq), by reusing the residual biomass of Nannochloropsis gaditana after each processing step. Remarkably, pure glycolipids (102.95 ± 1.10 mg g−1 dry weight) were obtained immediately after enzymatic pretreatment, facilitating their easy recovery. Furthermore, two alternative sequential extraction processes were successfully developed, using ethanol and water as green solvents at varying temperatures and in different orders. The most effective PLEseq conditions yielded up to 48 mg mL−1 of carbohydrates using water at 50 °C, and up to 44 mg mL−1 of proteins via subcritical water extraction at 100 °C, prior to conventional lipid extraction with ethanol to produce various concentrated extracts. In the inverted PLEseq process—starting with ethanol extraction followed by successive water washes—isolated and purified fractions of lutein and astaxanthin were obtained, contributing to the complete depletion of the residual biomass. Overall, the development of an integrated and sequential biorefinery protocol that enables the extraction of multiple high-value compounds holds significant potential for application in the food industry.

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Details

Published: Jun 23, 2025
Vol/Issue: 23(7)
Pages: 263
License: View

Authors

C

Cristina Blanco-Llamero

Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Ctra. Pozuelo-Majadahonda Km 1, 800, Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223 Madrid, Spain

P

Paz García-García

Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus Centrum, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark

F

Francisco Javier Señoráns

Healthy Lipids Group, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain

Funding

Comunidad de Madrid (Spain) Award: P2018/BAA-4532

European Social Fund, and Ministry of Spain Award: P2018/BAA-4532

Cite This Article

Cristina Blanco-Llamero, Paz García-García, Francisco Javier Señoráns (2025). An Integrated Biorefinery Process to Revalorize Marine Biomass from the Microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana Using Pressurized Green Solvents. Marine Drugs, 23(7), 263. https://doi.org/10.3390/md23070263

An Integrated Biorefinery Process to Revalorize Marine Biomass from the Microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana Using Pressurized Green Solvents

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