Sustainable Algal Fucoxanthin Extraction, Encapsulation and Valorisation Using Hydrodynamic Cavitation

Marine algae act as carbon sinks, utilizing carbon dioxide for their growth and metabolism. Channelising these marine biomasses will result in the production of sustainable and valuable metabolites with wide range of applications in food, nutrition, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics sectors. This can also contribute to achieving Europe's Net Zero goals by 2050. The SAFE project introduces an innovative and sustainable process for extracting Fucoxanthin, an orange coloured pigment present in marine brown algae, which offers a sustainable alternative to synthetic colorant Sunset Yellow FCF. Synthetic colours are reported to cause hormonal imbalance and cancer in humans. Fucoxanthin is not only a safer option but also offers potential health benefits. In the global market, fucoxanthin demand is valued at 2.1 billion USD in 2023 and is projected to increase to 3.15 billion USD at a CAGR of 5.2% by 2032.
Extracting fucoxanthin from brown algae is however challenging due to the cell wall rigidity, which makes the process energy-intensive. SAFE aims to achieve a step change in fucoxanthin extraction using a novel vortex based hydrodynamic cavitation process by overcoming this limitation. Additionally, fucoxanthin is sensitive to light, temperature and pH, necessitating enhanced stability measures. To improve stability of fucoxanthin, heat-resistant nanoliposome encapsulation is also proposed. Furthermore, in line with the principles of circular economy, the residual biomass from the process will be utilised for the production of biomethane to demonstrate the overall valorisation potential of the marine algae. This strategic research initiative in algal biotechnology will position the EU as a world leader in the sustainable production of fucoxanthin, with potential applications across various sectors to accelerate sustainable manufacturing practices worldwide.