Sustainable Recovery of Phlorotannins from Durvillaea incurvata: Integrated Extraction and Purification with Advanced Characterization

Pamela Raquel Rivera-Tovar, Gabriela Contreras-Contreras, Paulina Isabel Rivas-Reyes, Jara Pérez-Jiménez, Maximiliano Martínez-Cifuentes, José Ricardo Pérez-Correa, María Salomé Mariotti-Celis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The rising demand for bioactive compounds from marine resources highlights the need for sustainable separation technologies. This study introduces an integrated process combining ultrasound-assisted extraction (USAE) and resin purification (RP) to isolate phlorotannins from Durvillaea incurvata, a brown seaweed with significant biomedical potential. Using a 32.5% ethanol–water solvent system for USAE followed by RP on Diaion HP-20 resin, phlorotannins were enriched 2.4-fold, with simultaneous removal of interfering compounds such as mannitol (~100%), which was demonstrated by FTIR and HPLC-IR analysis. Advanced characterization using UHPLC-QToF-MS/MS identified five novel phlorotannins with polymerization degrees of 3 to 8 phloroglucinol units in both USAE extracts and post-RP. Mass balance based on spectrophotometric measurements indicated a purification factor of ~2, confirming process effectiveness. RP streams showed distinct phlorotannin profiles, with one phlorotannin exceeding 70% relative abundance. However, MS/MS results showed significantly lower recoveries than spectrophotometric data, revealing a novel insight into RP purification. These findings highlight the critical role of comprehensive chemical characterization in optimizing sustainable phlorotannin extraction from seaweed. They propose a framework for scalable, eco-efficient technologies for achieving high-purity phlorotannin recovery. This approach facilitates the development of phlorotannin-based applications in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.

Original languageEnglish
Article number250
JournalAntioxidants
Volume14
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Mar 2025

Keywords

  • brown seaweed
  • integrated extraction–purification processes
  • mass balance
  • spectrophotometric
  • UHPLC-QToF MS/MS

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