MATERIAL AND METHODS
Dried samples of the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis were supplied by the University of La Serena, Chile.
The algae were locally produced in artificial ponds and were dried in a stove at low temperature (40°C).
Three runs were performed: in run
(1) the samples were crushed by cutting mills, prior to extraction; in run
(2) the samples were crushed by cutting mills and then manually grinded with dry ice (solid CO2), prior to extraction.
In both cases, extraction was done using pure super critical carbon dioxide. A third run was performed using samples treated as in run (2), but extracted using super critical carbon dioxide and ethanol (9.4%), as a co-solvent.