THE RESEARCH ON CHLOROPHYLL POWDER FROM ALGAE CHAETOMORPHA SP. IN MEKONG DELTA

Abstract

Chlorophyll is a natural pigment, it plays a key role in photosynthesis and it is very essential for surviving of most of plants, algae and cyanobacteria. Chlorophyll is used widespreadly not only in food technology as a food addition agent (E140) but also in cosmetic, in pharmaceutical industry because of their benefits for humans. In this study, we chose algae material Cheatomorpha sp. derived from Mekong Delta to carry out the chlorophyll extraction, then using vacuum evaporator to enhaned the content of chlorophyll before spray drying to obtain chlorophyll powder. The extraction stage used fresh algae and in the conditions of solvent extraction with ethanol 80%, the ratio of algea material/ethanol 1/15, in the time of 24 hours in the dark, adding MgCO3 0,5% compared with materials to help increase extraction capabilities. Results showed that there was 34,03mg/l chlorophyll in extraction solution. The concentrated samples was increased the dry matter concentration from 12%, to 13,5% by adding maltodextrin. After spray drying, the chlorophyll powder was soluble, moisture 5,4%, can be applied in food production. The recovery yield of chlorophyll was 62,96%.
Keyword: Cheatomorpha sp., chlorophyll