Extraction, Purification and Characterization of Microbial Pigments – A Review

Microorganisms like fungi and bacteria have been reported to produce a vast array of dye able colorants as intra and extra cellular pigments. Extraction of which can be carried out using simple aqueous to complicated solvent systems to sophisticated extraction techniques depending on the product and purity required. Microbes are always looked for their safety and efficacy before accomplishing any extraction procedure. However, extraction of pigments in relatively pure and concentrated forms is the main technological challenge and is a costlier process altogether. Extraction is followed by purification and characterization for knowing the physical and chemical characteristics using various instrumental based analytical techniques such as TLC, Silica gel, Column chromatography, HPLC, UV–VIS Spectroscopy, FTIR, NMR, ESR and IR. In an overview extraction, purification and characterization are very important procedures that make a pigment effective to be used as dye for dyeing different textile substrates.