OPTIMIZATION STUDY ON EXTRACTION & PURIFICATION OF PHYCOERYTHRIN FROM RED ALGAE KAPPAPHYCUS ALVAREZII

Objective: The current study focuses on R-Phycoerythrin pigment production from Seaweed using different chemical and physical conditions.  Methods: In the present study Seaweed was collected from Rameshwaram and identified by CS-MCRI Institute, Mandapam. The collected seaweed was then washed using distilled water for further processing. Using a sterile knife the seaweed was cut into small pieces. The chopped seaweeds were then weighed and subjected to different optimization procedures for pigment production. These equally weighed seaweeds were treated with three varying Buffers at different pH, the buffer showing better O.D value was subjected to different Cell disruption techniques and finally freeze thawed at different temperature stress. R esults: The seaweeds were subjected to different chemical and physical stress conditions for R-phycoerythrin production. On optimizing the different buffer solutions for pigment production Sodium phosphate buffer showed maximum O.D of 0.215 when compared to other buffers whereas on providing different pH conditions the O.D value obtained was high at pH 7.2. Different cell disruption techniques were followed for pigment production using the sodium phosphate buffer at pH 7.2 and freeze thaw method was found suitable for the highest pigment production with O.D value of 0.441. Hence after optimization of different extraction procedures, cell disruption followed by freeze & thaw method (−20°C and 25°C) showed maximum R-phycoerythrin content.  C onclusion: From the findings, it was also observed that the primary metabolites produced by these organisms may serve as potential bioactive compounds of interest in the Food industries as natural colourant and in cosmetic industries. Ke ywords: Seaweeds, Extraction, Phycoerythrin, Optimization, Cell disruption, Sonication.