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**Chapter 4**

**Abstract**

human alimentation.

functional supplements

species around the world [1].

**1. Introduction**

*and Giustino Tribuzi*

Drying and Quality of Microalgal

Powders for Human Alimentation

The demand for natural foods with high protein content and functional properties is constantly growing in the last years. In this context, microalgae as *Spirulina* (*Arthrospira* spp.), *Chlorella* spp., *Haematococcus pluvialis*, *Dunaliella salina*, and others, assume a key role to diversify the offer of nutritious and functional ingredients and supplements. Microalgae are commercialized, mostly, as dried powders to facilitate their use as food ingredients and to allow easy transportation and long-term stability. Microalgal powder quality and storage stability depend mainly on drying method, packaging, and storage conditions. Most of the studies that approach the subject of microalgal drying evaluate the efficiency of the process and suitability for this raw material. However, studies that assess the effect of traditional and innovative drying methods on quality of microalgal powder for human consumption are rare in literature. In this chapter, the state of the art of drying processing technology for microalgae was reviewed, discussing the effect of dehydration on quality and stability of microalgal powders with potential use in

**Keywords:** microalgae, dry biomass, biomass quality, microalgal powder,

Ochrophyta, Dinophyta, Rhodophyta, Euglenophyta, Haptophyta, and

Microalgae are photosynthetic microscopic organisms that convert CO2 and water in biomass and O2. This group of organisms is very diverse and abundant around the globe. They occur most in freshwater and saltwater aquatic ecosystems but also at other environments [1]. The main groups are Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta,

Prymnesiophyta [2]. It is estimated that there are around 300,000 of microalgal

Microalgae have a great ecological importance as they are primary producers contributing to a lot of food chains; they produce around 40–60% of the oxygen available on Earth atmosphere, convert inorganic nutrients in organic matter, and for millions of years have produced the oil that today economy is still dependent [1]. Also, microalgae have been used in different industries for decades. These microscopic organisms are produced in ponds or photobioreactors to be used directly as live feeds for aquaculture hatcheries or to be used in food industry as food supplements or source of nutrients and vitamins, in agriculture as biofertilizer,

*Fábio de Farias Neves, Mariana Demarco* 
