Enhancing Extraction Yield of Chlorella Extract by Enzyme Treatment

An efficient production method of chlorella extract was developed by enzymatic treatment using cell lytic and proteolytic enzymes. The suitable dosage of Tunicase, a cell lytic enzyme, was found to be 1.0% (w/w). Proteolytic enzymes were screened to obtain high chlorella growth factor (CGF) index, which indicates crude CGF content and solid recovery. Among the seven tested proteases, Esperase, whose optimal dosage was 1.0% (w/w), was selected. By co-treatment using optimal dosages of Tunicase and Esperase, the highest CGF index and solid recovery were obtained. The CGF index and solid recovery of co-treatment were remarkably enhanced by 250 ($4.36{\rightarrow}15.21$) and 220% ($12.65%{\rightarrow}40.15%$), respectively, than those of the non-treated extracts.