Process Optimization of Astaxanthin Extraction from Antarctic kill (Euphausia superba) by subcritical R134a

Subcritical 1, 1, 1, 2-tetrafluoro ethane (R134a) extraction is a modern extraction technology in natural product perpartion. The optimized process of extracting astaxanthin from Antarctic kill (Euphausia superba) through subcritical R134a was systematically investigated in this work with respect to the key parameters including extraction pressure, extraction temperature and extraction time by the response surface methodology. Response surface analysis showed that the data came to a precise fitting to a second-order polynomial model. According to the results, the optimum operating conditions with 11 MPa, 41oC and 40min would increase the astaxanthin extraction rate to 93.2%. The present study suggested the feasibility of our subcritical R134a extraction approach for isolating astaxanthin from such sources as Antarctic kill.