Is the carotenoid production from Phaffia rhodozyma yeast genuinely sustainable? a comprehensive analysis of biocompatibility, environmental assessment, and techno-economic constraints.

Microorganisms, such as yeasts, filamentous fungi, bacteria, and microalgae, have gained significant attention due to their potential in producing commercially valuable natural carotenoids. In recent years, Phaffia rhodozyma yeasts have emerged as intriguing non-conventional sources of carotenoids, particularly astaxanthin and ß-carotene. However, the shift from academic exploration to effective industrial implementation has been challenging to achieve. This study aims to bridge this gap by assessing various scenarios for carotenoid production and recovery. It explores the use of ionic liquids (ILs) and bio-based solvents (ethanol) to ensure safe extraction. The evaluation includes a comprehensive analysis involving Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), biocompatibility assessment, and Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) of two integrated technologies that utilize choline-based ILs and ethanol (EtOH) for astaxanthin (+ß-carotene) recovery from P. rhodozyma cells. This work evaluates the potential sustainability of integrating these alternative solvents within a yeast-based bioeconomy.

Combining eutectic solvents and food-grade silica to recover and stabilize anthocyanins from grape pomace.

Concentrated in the skins of red grapes are the anthocyanins, the primary colorants responsible for the fruits' reddish-purple color. These colorants are recognized for their significant antioxidant properties and potent nutraceutical and pharmaceutical ingredients. Nevertheless, their widespread use is compromised by the (i) need for more efficient yet sustainable downstream processes for their recovery and (ii) by the challenges imposed by their poor stability. In this work, these drawbacks were overcome by applying eutectic solvents and stabilizing agents. Besides, the anthocyanins were successfully loaded into a solid host material (approved in both food and pharmaceutical sectors) based on silicon dioxide (SiO2, loading capacity: 1extract:7silica m/m). Summing up, with the process developed, the extraction yield (21 mganthocyanins.gbiomass-1) and the stability (under 55, 75, and 95 °C) of the recovered anthocyanins were over three times better than with the conventional process. Finally, the raw materials and solvents were recycled, allowing an economical and environmentally friendly downstream process.

An eco-friendly approach for the recovery of astaxanthin and ß-carotene from Phaffia rhodozyma biomass using bio-based solvents.

There is a growing demand in the development of environmentally friendly technologies, based on the use of more biocompatible solvents for the recovery of natural bioactive compounds. In this work, the red yeast Phaffia rhodozyma biomass was used as a source of carotenoids to develop an integrative and efficient platform that promotes the recovery of astaxanthin and ß-carotene using bio-based solvents (BioSs). The extraction aptitude of pure BioSs was evaluated and compared with the conventional organic method. At this point, the influence of the BioSs molecular structures involved in the extraction procedures were also investigated. Overall, envisaging the industrial application of the process, an integrative platform was proposed for the recovery of astaxanthin/ß-carotene from P. rhodozyma biomass and the recycle of the BioSs. The life cycle assessment of the proposed technology using EtOH was evaluated, validating the sustainability of BioSs in the process with environmental impact reduction of 3-12%.