Characterization and physicochemical properties of chlorophyll extract from Spirulina sp.

Abstract

Spirulina sp. is a group of microalgae which has a number of pigments with diverse bioactivities. Chlorophyll is one of the dominant pigments in Spirulina sp. that play an important role in capturing light as a crucial element for photosynthesis. This study aims at investigating the characteristic of chlorophyll extract from Spirulina sp. and its physicochemical properties. The effects of light exposure (white, yellow, and UV-C) and metal ions (Sn2+, K+, and Fe3+) on chlorophyll stability were investigated. The green spots with RF 0.45 and 0.37 values were observed in the TLC experiment, indicating the chlorophyll a and b, respectively. The UV-Vis analysis was employed to identify the presence of chlorophyll and FTIR was utilized to detect the typical absorbance of characteristics functional groups for chlorophyll. The results show the chlorophyll was less resistance to all kinds of light (white, yellow, and UV-C). Metal ions of Sn2+, K+, and Fe3+ exhibited no obvious effect on the chlorophyll stability in the dark condition, but some metal ions gave a noteworthy effect in the presence of light.