One-Pot, Water-Based Disruption of Cell Walls and Astaxanthin Extraction from Haematococcus pluvialis by Mechanochemistry

In this study, a new method for efficient astaxanthin extraction from Haematococcus pluvialis ( H. pluvialis ) by mechanochemistry was developed. The method is a water-based and water-reused one-pot procedure, which can simultaneously achieve cell wall breaking and astaxanthin extraction from H. pluvialis . In addition, the optimized process parameters were determined based on studies of different conditions; an elevated recovery of astaxanthin extraction yield (91.6 wt %) was achieved using 1 g of dried H. pluvialis and 4 mL of water at 200 rpm in 30 min with a ball-to-material ratio of 90 (m/m). The underlying mechanism revealed the extraction process by electron microscopy, thermodynamic analysis, spectroscopic determination, and particle size distribution analysis. The results of this study followed the sustainability criteria that include the concept of circular economy and contribute to the achievement of items 3, 6, 12, and 14 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 1 This method innovates a new way for green and gentle extraction of natural fatty-soluble substances.