An improved process for the preparation of pure phycocyanin concentrate

An improved process for the preparation of pure phycocyanin concentrate The present invention relates to an improved process for the preparaion of pure phycocyanin concentrate. The process is an improved process for the concentration and purification of phycocyanin obtained from blue-green algae employing aqueous two-phase extraction. In the present invention, freshly harvested Spirulina biomass is washed two to three times to remove the culture media components. The biomass is homozinised in a homoziniser at the pressure of 100 - 400 kg/m2 for 10-15 min. Then the solution is filtered using cotton bed filter to remove the chlorophyll and cell debris and then centrifuged to remove the traces of these contaminants. The phycocyanin obtained is used for the preparation of aqueous two phase system.