Monitoring the presence of pigments in aqueous extracts using silica materials functionalized with ionic liquids

Abstract

Macroalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms living in saline environments. Included in the natural compounds produced by macroalgae are natural pigments and colorants such as chlorophylls, carotenoids and phycobiliproteins. These may be harvested directly in nature or cultivated in aquaculture systems. Indeed, a major challenge for aquaculture companies is the lack of standardized, accessible techniques that would allow for the qualitatively assessment of the presence of these pigments in algae biomass and derived extracts. Typically, identifying and measuring these pigments requires complex procedures that may be difficult to implement in smaller aquaculture companies in need of a quick and straightforward solution. This study addresses this gap by developing a silica-based material functionalized with ionic liquid for detecting the presence of phycobiliproteins and other pigments in aqueous extracts.