Effect of Vacuum Filtration Pressure on The Harvesting Efficiency and Phycocyanin Quality of <i>Spirulina platensis</i>

Spirulina platensis , a blue-green microalgae classified as cyanobacteria, is valued for its nutritional content and pigments, particularly phycocyanin. This study aims to determine the effect of differences in vacuum filtration pressure on the filtration performance and quality of the Spirulina platensis produced. The experimental stages involved cultivation, vacuum filtration, drying, and phycocyanin extraction. The vacuum pressure treatments were 0, 5, 10, and 15 kPa. Vacuum filtration could improve quality speed and harvest time parameters compared to without vacuum filtration (0 kPa pressure). The vacuum pressures were not significantly differences in filtration time, rejection value, dry biomass weight, and water content. However, flux at 15 kPa showed a significantly different value than 5 and 10 kPa. Wet biomass weight was significantly different in the 10 kPa treatment. The results of phycocyanin extraction did not show significant differences in phycocyanin pigment concentration and yield. Analysis of antioxidant activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method also showed no significant differences.