On the double role of surfactants as microalga cell lysis agents and antioxidants extractants

An integrated process based on the concomitant role of non-ionic surfactants as cell disrupters and organic extractants of intracellular antioxidants is proposed for the first time in this work. The lytic effect of two common families of surfactants on the cell walls of the microalga Tetraselmis suecica has been initially evaluated. The antioxidant extraction based on aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) was proposed using different potential salting out agents such as sodium inorganic and organic salts in aqueous solutions of the selected surfactants. The extraction efficiency was ascertained for the most representative biomolecules previously detected in this microalga: α-tocopherol, β-carotene and gallic acid. The viability of the process was checked in real lyophilized microalga samples, yielding higher antioxidant activity than that provided by an ultrasound-based conventional method.