Concentration of fucoxanthin from Ecklonia cava using supercritical carbon dioxide

Fucoxanthin has been concentrated efficiently using supercritical carbon dioxide. First, fucoxanthin was extracted from Ecklonia cava using solvents. Three solvents, such as medium chain fatty acid (MCFA), medium chain fatty acid ethyl ester, and fatty acid from coconut oil were tested, and MCFA was selected as a suitable solvent to extract fucoxanthin from Ecklonia cava. The concentration was conducted at various pressures and temperatures. In order to concentrate fucoxanthin from extracts, MCFA was eliminated from the extract using supercritical carbon dioxide, and fucoxanthin was concentrated successfully in residue. Optimal conditions for concentrating the fucoxanthin from fucoxanthin extract were 40°C at 9.7 MPa, 45°C at 11.0 MPa, and 50°C at 12.4 MPa, respectively. The density of carbon dioxide affected the concentration of fucoxanthin from fucoxanthin extract. In this optimal conditions, the density for concentrating the fucoxanthin was 600 g/L.