Castor oil as a solvent in the extraction of astaxantin in shrimp residues

Abstract

In view of the possibility of using residues rich in bioactive compounds such as astaxanthin combined with techniques for extracting it in a simple and sustainable manner from an economic, social and environmental point of view, the use of shrimp residues sete-barbas (Xiphopernaeus kroyeri) from the fishery depot was proposed in this study of the city of Pirambu/SE, as raw material for extraction of this carotenoid of high commercial value suggesting an alternative to mitigate its incorrect eviction as well to complement in the income for the social actors of the fishing community of the region that depend economically on the shellfish process. For this, a technique of extracting the astaxanthin from the shrimp was carried out using a solvent never before explored for this purpose, the castor oil obtained from the seed of a plant of easy access and adaptation in the Brazilian northeast. The calculation of the astaxanthin yield through this new option was only possible thanks to the investigation of the extinction coefficient of the carotenoid for this specific oil. The research indicated the best conditions for optimization of the extraction technique statistically indicated by means of response surface, reaching a maximum extract yield of 14.22 μg.g-1 residue at the temperature of 80°C over the 10 hour period.