(320g) Production and Isolation of Phospholipids from Microalgae for Formulation of Green Cosmetics

Phospholipids, essential ingredients of various cosmetics formulations, are currently obtained from food sources, such as soybean and egg yolk. However, sustainability concerns have been raised due to competition with food uses. Microalgae, a promising source of natural ingredients, can produce phospholipids on potentially a more sustainable basis. The marine microalga Nannochloropsis oculata was cultivated in a vertical flat panel photobioreactor in batch and continuous mode. The macronutrient ratio of nitrates-to-phosphates was varied to enhance phospholipid synthesis. Cell harvesting was followed by solvent extraction to solubilize and recover the microalgal phospholipids. For quantification of the individual phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and lyso-phosphatidylcholine) recovered from the microalgal biomass, we employed P-31 NMR spectroscopy. Finally, using a semi-preparative HPLC column, we fractionated and isolated the individual phospholipid compounds.