Products containing microalgae and their manufacturing methods

Abstract

This invention provides a microalgae product and a method for manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for treating microalgae without increasing pheophytin. This method provides a safe microalgae product with reduced pheophytin content. Such a microalgae product can provide various health, nutritional, and / or cosmetic benefits. Furthermore, the invention provides a culture apparatus with less bacterial contamination, enabling high-concentration cultivation, thereby facilitating the convenient cultivation of microalgae.

Description

[Technical Field] This invention relates to a product containing microalgae (e.g., food products, cosmetics) and a method and system for manufacturing it. More particularly, this invention relates to a microalgae-containing product (e.g., food products, cosmetics) with reduced pheophytin, a method for recovering and concentrating the microalgae, and an apparatus for cultivating microalgae at high concentrations. [Previous Technology] Microalgae such as green algae and euglena are valued for their vitamins and minerals, and are used as health foods or food ingredients. For green algae, which are currently widely distributed as food, various cultivation methods have been established, including independent nutrient cultivation using photosynthesis and dependent nutrient cultivation using organic carbon sources. However, because factors such as growth rate, size, and the presence or absence of cell walls vary among different microalgae species, there is a desire to establish a manufacturing method that conforms to the characteristics of their cells. Furthermore, microalgae may contain various components, including both beneficial and harmful ones. To provide safe food, it may be necessary to reduce harmful components. While it is possible to prepare products containing these components by improving the varieties of microalgae with high chlorophyll content, such as green algae (Patent Document 1 = Japanese Patent Application Publication 2016-67313), the specific components contained in the product may vary depending on the manufacturing method. It is desirable to establish a manufacturing method that maximizes beneficial components while minimizing harmful ones, and to provide products (e.g., food) made using this method. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-67313 [Summary of the Invention] [Technical means to solve the problem] The inventors have conducted intensive research and discovered an efficient method for manufacturing high-quality microalgae products. This invention provides microalgae products with novel functionalities and safety (e.g., food products, cosmetics). The manufacturing method of this invention involves treating microalgae with reduced cell membrane and / or cell wall damage (e.g., damage to cell organs), reduced secretion and / or activity of enzymes that promote self-decomposition or decomposition of intracellular components (e.g., due to reduced physical and / or chemical toxicity). This process inactivates and / or decomposes enzymes that adversely affect the microalgae themselves or their components, thus providing microalgae products with reduced pheophytic acid. This invention provides a method for efficiently manufacturing high-quality microalgae products and an apparatus that can be beneficially used in the method. Therefore, the present invention representatively provides the following items. (Item B1) A method for manufacturing microalgae products, comprising the steps of: (A) maintaining the stress on the microalgae below a specific value from cultivation up to step (B), and maintaining the density of the microalgae below a specific value and / or not concentrating the microalgae to a specific ratio or higher; and (B) subjecting the microalgae to a treatment that inactivates chlorophyllase. (Item B2) The method of any of the above items, wherein the specific value of the density and / or the specific ratio of concentration is determined based on the increase of pheophytic acid when the microalgae are concentrated. (Item B3) The method of any of the above items, wherein the specific value of the density is about 10 g / L (dry weight) or less. (Item B4) The method of any of the above items, wherein the specific value of the density is about 5 g / L (dry weight) or less. (Item B5) The method of any of the above items, wherein the specific concentration ratio is approximately 100 times or more. (Item B6) The method of any of the above items, wherein the specific concentration ratio is approximately 10 times or more. (Item B7) The method of any of the above items, wherein the specific stress value is approximately 5 or less. (Item B8) The method of any of the above items, wherein the specific stress value is approximately 3 or less. (Item B9) The method of any of the above items, wherein the specific stress value is approximately 2 or less. (Item B10) The method of any of the above items, wherein the treatment of concentrating the microalgae is not performed in step (A). (Item B11) The method of any of the above items, wherein the step of cultivating the microalgae includes increasing the microalgae to a density of 1 g / L (dry weight) or more. (Item B12) The method of any of the above items, wherein a step of concentrating the microalgae is included after step (B). (Item B13) The method of any of the above items, wherein step (B) includes heating the microalgae. (Item B14) The method of any of the above items, wherein the heating includes heating to 95°C or higher. (Item B15) The method of any of the above items, wherein step (B) is carried out under the following conditions: fucoxanthin is not decomposed, or the reduction of fucoxanthin is less than 80% when compared before and after step (B). (Item B16) The method of any of the above items, wherein the above conditions include a fucoxanthin decomposition amount of less than 10%. (Item B17) The method of any of the above items, wherein step (B) includes a step of drying the microalgae. (Item B18) The method of any of the above items, wherein the microalgae produce more than 30 mg of chlorophyll per 1 g of dried weight.(Item B19) The method of any of the above items, wherein the microalgae are algae that produce fucoxanthin. (Item B20) The method of any of the above items, wherein the microalgae produce more than 8 mg of fucoxanthin per 1 g dry weight. (Item B21) The method of any of the above items, wherein the microalgae are of the class Diplocoidea. (Item B22) The method of any of the above items, wherein the microalgae are of the family Pavlovaceae. (Item B23) The method of any of the above items, wherein the microalgae are of the genus Pavlova. (Item B24) The method of any of the above items, wherein the microalgae are P. calceolate, P. granifera, P. gyrans, P. lutheri, P. pinguis, or P. salina. (Item B25) The method of any of the above items, wherein the microalgae are P. granifera or P. gyrans. (Item B26) A microalgae product manufactured by a method including any of the methods described in the above items and intended for use in organisms or for biological ingestion, the microalgae product comprising the algal cells of the microalgae. (Item B27) A microalgae product of any of the above items, wherein the content of pheophytic acid in the microalgae is 0.2% by weight or less. (Item B28) A microalgae product of any of the above items, wherein the content of pheophytic acid in the microalgae is 0.1% by weight or less. (Item B29) A microalgae product intended for use in organisms or for biological ingestion, comprising the algal cells of the microalgae, wherein the content of pheophytic acid in the microalgae is 0.2% by weight or less (dry weight). (Item B30) A microalgae product intended for use in organisms or for biological ingestion, comprising the algal cells of the microalgae, wherein the content of pheophytic acid in the microalgae is 0.1% by weight or less (dry weight). (Item B31) A microalgae product of any of the above items, wherein the microalgae are dinoflagellates. (Item B32) A microalgae product of any of the above items, wherein the microalgae are *P. granifera* or *P. gyrans*. (Item B33) A microalgae product of any of the above items, which is an edible product or a cosmetic. (Item B34) A microalgae product of any of the above items, wherein the organism is a mammal. (Item B35) A microalgae product of any of the above items, wherein the organism is a human. (Item B36) A microalgae product of any of the above items, wherein the fucoxanthin content is 0.8% by weight or more. (Item B37) A microalgae product of any of the above items, wherein the fucoxanthin content of the microalgae is 0.8% by weight or more (dry weight).(Item B38) A microalgae product of any of the above items, wherein the chlorophyll content of the microalgae is 3% by weight or more (dry weight). (Item B39) A microalgae product of any of the above items is an edible product. (Item B40) A microalgae product of any of the above items is a food product. (Item B41) A microalgae product of any of the above items is an edible product provided to provide 100-150 mg of chlorophyll daily. (Item B42) A microalgae product of any of the above items is a cosmetic. (Item B43) A method for manufacturing frozen products, comprising the steps of: preparing a microalgae concentrate by any of the above items; and freezing the microalgae concentrate. (Item B44) A method of any of the above items, wherein the freezing step includes cooling to below -40°C. (Item B45) A microalgae product of any of the above items, which is a frozen product. (Item B46) A microalgae product of any of the above items, which is dairy-free, lactic acid ice cream, iced milk, or ice cream. (Item B47) A frozen product of any of the above items, which contains one or more of excipients, antioxidants, emulsifiers, and thickeners. (Item B48) A frozen product of any of the above items, which contains one or more of fruit juice and flavorings. (Item B49) A frozen product of any of the above items, which is in plate form. (Item B50) A method for manufacturing an oil-impregnated product, comprising the steps of: preparing a microalgae concentrate by any of the above items; and mixing the microalgae with oil. (Item B51) A method of any of the above items, comprising the step of adding water to the microalgae concentrate for desalination. (Item B52) A method of any of the above items, comprising the step of freeze-drying the above-mentioned microalgae concentrate. (Item B53) A microalgae product of any of the above items, which is an oil-impregnated product. (Item B54) An oil-impregnated product of any of the above items, which contains an antioxidant. (Item B55) An oil-impregnated product of any of the above items, wherein the antioxidant comprises α-tocopherol. (Item B56) An oil-impregnated product of any of the above items, which contains about 1 to 100% by weight of oil relative to 1 g of dried algae. (Item B57) An oil-impregnated product of any of the above items, which contains an emulsifier. (Item B58) An edible capsule comprising an oil-impregnated product of any of the above items. (Item B59) A microalgae product of any of the above items, which is a dried product containing one or more of a desiccant and an antioxidant. (Item B60) Microalgae products of any of the above items are dried products sealed in light-proof containers.(Item B61) A method for manufacturing dried microalgae, comprising the steps of: preparing a microalgae concentrate by any of the methods described in the above items; and drying the microalgae concentrate in the presence of one or more of an excipient, an emulsifier, and an antioxidant. (Item A1) A method for manufacturing a microalgae product of the order Pavlovales, comprising the steps of: (A) maintaining the stress on the microalgae below a specific value after cultivation until step (B), and maintaining the density of the microalgae below a specific value and / or not concentrating the microalgae to a specific ratio or higher; and (B) subjecting the microalgae to a treatment that inactivates chlorophyllase. (Item A2) The method described in item A1, wherein the specific value of the density and / or the specific ratio of concentration are determined based on the increase of pheophytic acid when the microalgae are concentrated. (Item A3) The method described in Item A1 or 2, wherein the specific value of the density is about 10 g / L (dry weight) or less. (Item A4) The method described in Item A1 or 2, wherein the specific value of the density is about 5 g / L (dry weight) or less. (Item A5) The method described in any one of Items A1 to A4, wherein the specific concentration ratio is about 100 times or more. (Item A6) The method described in any one of Items A1 to A4, wherein the specific concentration ratio is about 10 times or more. (Item A7) The method described in any one of Items A1 to A6, wherein the specific value of the stress is about 5 or less. (Item A8) The method described in any one of Items A1 to A6, wherein the specific value of the stress is about 3 or less. (Item A9) The method described in any one of Items A1 to A6, wherein the specific value of the stress is about 2 or less. (Item A10) The method described in any of items A1 to A9, wherein the concentration of the microalgae is not performed in step (A). (Item A11) The method described in any of items A1 to A10, wherein the step of culturing the microalgae includes increasing the microalgae to a density of 1.5 g / L (dry weight) or higher. (Item A12) The method described in any of items A1 to A11, wherein a step of concentrating the microalgae is included after step (B). (Item A13) The method described in any of items A1 to A12, wherein step (B) includes heating the microalgae. (Item A14) The method described in item A13, wherein the heating includes heating to 95°C or higher. (Item A15) The method described in any of items A1 to A14, wherein step (B) is performed under the following conditions: fucoxanthin is not decomposed, or the reduction of fucoxanthin is less than 80% when compared before and after step (B). (Item A16) The method described in item A15, wherein the above conditions include the amount of fucoxanthin decomposed being less than 10%.(Item A17) The method described in any of items A1-16, wherein a step of drying the microalgae is included after step (B). (Item A18) The method described in any of items A1-17, wherein the microalgae produce chlorophyll of 30 mg or more per 1 g dried weight. (Item A19) The method described in any of items A1-18, wherein the microalgae are algae that produce fucoxanthin. (Item A20) The method described in any of items A1-19, wherein the microalgae are algae that produce fucoxanthin of 8 mg or more per 1 g dried weight. (Item A21) The method described in any of items A1-20, wherein the microalgae are from the family Pavlovaceae. (Item A22) The method described in any of items A1-21, wherein the microalgae are from the genus Pavlovace. (Item A23) The method described in any of items A1 to A22, wherein the microalgae are *P. calceolate*, *P. granifera*, *P. gyrans*, *P. lutheri*, *P. pinguis*, or *P. salina*. (Item A24) The method described in item A23, wherein the microalgae are *P. granifera* or *P. gyrans*. (Item A25) A microalgae product manufactured by a method including performing any of the methods described in items A1 to A24 and intended for use by organisms or for biological ingestion, the microalgae product comprising the algae of the aforementioned microalgae. (Item A26) The microalgae product described in item A25, wherein the content of pheophytic acid in the aforementioned microalgae is 0.2% by weight or less. (Item A27) The microalgae product described in item A26, wherein the content of pheophytic acid in the aforementioned microalgae is 0.1% by weight or less. (Item A28) A microalgae product for use in organisms or for biological ingestion, comprising the thallus of a microalgae belonging to the order Pavuriales, wherein the content of pheophytic acid in the microalgae is 0.2% by weight or less (dry weight). (Item A29) A microalgae product for use in organisms or for biological ingestion, comprising the thallus of a microalgae belonging to the order Pavuriales, wherein the content of pheophytic acid in the microalgae is 0.1% by weight or less (dry weight). (Item A30) A microalgae product as described in Items A28 or A29, wherein the microalgae is *P. granifera* or *P. gyrans*. (Item A31) A microalgae product as described in any one of Items A25 to A30, which is an edible product or a cosmetic. (Item A32) A microalgae product as described in any one of Items A25 to A31, wherein the organism is a mammal. (Item A33) Microalgae products as described in any of items A25 to 31, wherein the organisms are human.(Item A34) A microalgae product as described in any of items A25-33, wherein the fucoxanthin content is 0.8% by weight or more. (Item A35) A microalgae product as described in any of items A25-34, wherein the fucoxanthin content of the aforementioned microalgae is 0.8% by weight or more (dry weight). (Item A36) A microalgae product as described in any of items A25-35, wherein the chlorophyll content of the aforementioned microalgae is 3% by weight or more (dry weight). (Item A37) A microalgae product as described in any of items A25-36 is an edible product. (Item A38) A microalgae product as described in any of items A25-36 is a food product. (Item A39) A microalgae product as described in any of items A25-36 is an edible product provided with 100-150 mg of chlorophyll per day. (Item A40) A microalgae product as described in any of Items A25-36, which is a cosmetic. (Item 1) A microalgae product for use in organisms or for biological ingestion. (Item 2) A microalgae product as described in Item 1, wherein the microalgae is a dinoflagellate alga. (Item 3) A microalgae product as described in Item 1 or 2, wherein the content of pheophytic acid is 0.1% by weight or less. (Item 4) A microalgae product as described in any of Items 1-3, which is an edible product or a cosmetic. (Item 5) A microalgae product as described in any of Items 1-4, wherein the organism is a mammal. (Item 6) A microalgae product as described in any of Items 1-5, wherein the content of pheophytic acid in the microalgae is 0.1% by weight or less (dry weight). (Item 7) A microalgae product as described in any of Items 1-6, wherein the microalgae is a Pavlovales. (Item 8) A microalgae product as described in any of Items 1 to 7, wherein the microalgae is of the Pavlovaceae family. (Item 9) A microalgae product as described in any of Items 1 to 8, wherein the microalgae is of the Pavlovaceae genus. (Item 10) A microalgae product as described in any of Items 1 to 9, wherein the organism is human. (Item 11) A microalgae product as described in any of Items 1 to 10, wherein the fucoxanthin content is 0.8% by weight or more. (Item 12) A microalgae product as described in any of Items 1 to 11, wherein the fucoxanthin content of the microalgae is 0.8% by weight or more (dry weight). (Item 13) A microalgae product as described in any of Items 1 to 12, wherein the chlorophyll content of the microalgae is 3% by weight or more (dry weight). (Item 14) A microalgae product as described in any of Items 1 to 13 is a cosmetic. (Item 15) Microalgae products described in any of Items 1 to 13 are edible products. (Item 16) Microalgae products described in any of Items 1 to 13 are food products.(Item 17) A microalgae product as described in any one of Items 1 to 16, which is an edible product provided with 100 to 150 mg of chlorophyll per day. (Item 18) A method for manufacturing a microalgae product, comprising the following steps: (A) subjecting microalgae to a treatment that inactivates chlorophyllase under controlled stress conditions. (Item 19) The method as described in Item 18, wherein the stress level is less than 2. (Item 20) The method as described in Item 18, wherein the stress level is less than 3. (Item 21) The method as described in any one of Items 18 to 20, wherein the density of the microalgae in the step of inactivating chlorophyllase is less than 10 g / L (dry weight). (Item 22) The method as described in any one of Items 18 to 21, wherein at the beginning of step (A), the stress applied to the microalgae is a low stress level. (Item 23) The method described in any one of Items 18-22, wherein the concentration treatment of the microalgae is not performed after the step of culturing the microalgae and before step (A). (Item 24) The method described in any one of Items 18-23 includes concentrating the cell density of the microalgae to below 3 g / L (dry weight) after the step of culturing the microalgae and before step (A). (Item 25) The method described in any one of Items 18-24, wherein the step of culturing the microalgae includes increasing the density of the microalgae to a density of 1.7 g / L (dry weight) or higher. (Item 26) The method described in any one of Items 18-25, wherein the step of concentrating the microalgae is included after step (A). (Item 27) The method described in any one of Items 18-26, wherein step (A) includes heating the microalgae. (Item 28) The method described in Item 27, wherein the heating includes heating to 95°C or higher. (Item 29) The method described in any one of Items 18-28, wherein step (A) is carried out under conditions that do not decompose fucoxanthin or reduce such decomposition. (Item 30) The method described in Item 29, wherein the above conditions include a decomposition of fucoxanthin of less than 10%. (Item 31) The method described in any one of Items 18-30, wherein step (A) includes a step of drying the microalgae. (Item 32) The method described in any one of Items 18-31, wherein the microalgae produce 30 mg or more of chlorophyll per 1 g of dried weight. (Item 33) The method described in any one of Items 18-32, wherein the microalgae are algae that produce fucoxanthin. (Item 34) The method described in any one of Items 18-33, wherein the microalgae are algae that produce 8 mg or more of fucoxanthin per 1 g of dried weight. (Item 35) The method described in any of Items 18 to 34, wherein the microalgae mentioned above are Pavlothales.(Item 36) The method described in any of Items 18-35, wherein the microalgae are of the family Pavlovaceae. (Item 37) The method described in any of Items 18-36, wherein the microalgae are of the genus Pavlovace. (Item 38) The method described in any of Items 18-37, wherein the microalgae are P. calceolate, P. granifera, P. gyrans, P. lutheri, P. pinguis, or P. salina. (Item 39) An apparatus characterized in that it is for culturing microalgae and comprises: at least two culture sections having walls of a light-transmitting material; upper connecting portions connecting the upper parts of the at least two culture sections to each other; lower connecting portions connecting the lower parts of the at least two culture sections to each other; and at least one bubble generating device disposed in at least one of the at least two culture sections, but not all of the culture sections; wherein the at least two culture sections, the upper connecting portions, and the lower connecting portions are fluidly connected to encapsulate the culture medium; and the apparatus is arranged such that the upper connecting portions are further away from the mounting floor than the lower connecting portions. (Item 40) The apparatus as described in Item 39, wherein the at least two culture sections have an outer diameter of about 10 mm to about 1000 mm. (Item 41) The apparatus as described in Item 39 or 40, wherein the at least two culture sections have a length of about 10 cm to about 1000 cm. (Item 42) The apparatus described in any one of items 39 to 41, wherein the bubble generating device is positioned closer to the lower connecting portion than the upper connecting portion. (Item 43) The apparatus described in any one of items 39 to 42 is configured such that the culture medium comes into contact with external gas only through a filter and the bubble generating device. (Item 44) The apparatus described in any one of items 39 to 43 does not have a power source for stirring other than the bubble generating device. (Item 45) The apparatus described in any one of items 39 to 44, wherein the at least two culture sections are separate portions that are not inclusive of each other. (Item 46) The apparatus described in any one of items 39 to 45 is configured such that the at least two culture sections do not block light from each other. (Item 47) A system comprising a culture tank and a processing unit for inactivating chlorophyllase, for manufacturing microalgae products, and configured in such a way as to control the stress on the microalgae from the culture unit to the processing unit. (Item 48) The system described in Item 47 is configured such that water flow is generated from the culture unit to the processing unit by means of a roller pump, a mono pump or a diaphragm pump. In this invention, the aforementioned one or more features are intended to be further combined beyond the explicitly stated combinations. Further embodiments and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description as needed. [Effects of the Invention] In this invention, the microalgae products are safe and possess novel functionalities, providing health, nutritional, and / or cosmetic benefits. Furthermore, because the microalgae products of this invention contain reduced or eliminated components harmful to animals (especially humans), and thus their harmful effects are reduced or eliminated, they can fully exert their inherent functions. The manufacturing method and system of this invention can efficiently provide a microalgae product with reduced pheophytic acid. Moreover, the cultivation device of this invention enables high-concentration cultivation of various microalgae with minimal bacterial contamination.

Implementation Method

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing microalgae products, comprising the following steps: (A) maintaining the stress on the microalgae below a specific value from cultivation up to step (B), and maintaining the density of the microalgae below a specific value and / or not concentrating the microalgae to a specific ratio or higher; and (B) subjecting the microalgae to a treatment that inactivates chlorophyllase; wherein the specific value of the stress is 2 or less, the specific value of the density is 5 g / L (dry weight) or less, the specific ratio of concentration is 10 times or more, the cultivation step of the microalgae includes increasing the microalgae to a density of 1 g / L (dry weight) or more, the stress is measured by concentration operation and stress via a pump, the density is the density at cultivation, the concentration is carried out by centrifugation, and the inactivation is carried out by heating for more than 2 minutes; and the microalgae is *P. granifera* or *P. gyrans*.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the specific value of the density and / or the specific concentration ratio is determined based on the increase of pheophytic acid when the microalgae are concentrated.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the concentration of the microalgae is not performed in step (A).

4. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein step (B) includes a step of concentrating the aforementioned microalgae.

5. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein step (B) includes heating the microalgae.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the heating includes heating to 95°C or higher.

7. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein step (B) is performed under the following conditions: fucoxanthin is not decomposed, or the reduction of fucoxanthin is less than 80% when compared before and after step (B).

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the above condition includes a fucoxanthin degradation amount of less than 10%.

9. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein step (B) includes a step of drying the aforementioned microalgae.

10. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the above-mentioned microalgae produce more than 30 mg of chlorophyll per 1 g dry weight.

11. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the aforementioned microalgae are algae that produce fucoxanthin.

12. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the microalgae are algae that produce more than 8 mg of fucoxanthin per 1 g dry weight.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the microalgae mentioned above is P. granifera.

14. A microalgae product manufactured by a method comprising any one of claims 1 to 13 and intended for use by or for biological ingestion, the microalgae product comprising the algal body of the microalgae, wherein the microalgae is P. granifera or P. gyrans.

15. The microalgae product of claim 14, wherein the content of pheophytic acid in the microalgae is less than 0.2% by weight.

16. The microalgae product of claim 15, wherein the content of pheophytic acid in the microalgae is less than 0.1% by weight.

17. A microalgae product for use in organisms or for ingestion by organisms, comprising the algal body of a microalgae, wherein the content of pheophytic acid in the microalgae is 0.2% by weight or less (dry weight), and wherein the microalgae is P. granifera or P. gyrans.

18. A microalgae product for use in organisms or for ingestion by organisms, comprising the algal body of a microalgae, wherein the content of pheophytic acid in the microalgae is 0.1% by weight or less (dry weight), and wherein the microalgae is P. granifera or P. gyrans.

19. Microalgae products as claimed in any of items 14 to 18 are either edible products or cosmetics.

20. A microalgae product as claimed in any of claims 14 to 18, wherein the organism is a mammal.

21. Microalgae products as claimed in any of claims 14 to 18, wherein the organisms are human.

22. The microalgae product of any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein the content of fucoxanthin is 0.8% by weight or more.

23. The microalgae product of any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein the fucoxanthin content of the aforementioned microalgae is 0.8% by weight or more (dry weight).

24. The microalgae product of any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein the chlorophyll content of the microalgae is 3% by weight or more (dry weight).

25. Microalgae products as described in any of claims 14 to 18 are edible products.

26. Microalgae products as described in any of claims 14 to 18 are food products.

27. Microalgae products as claimed in any of items 14 to 18 are edible products provided with 100 to 150 mg of chlorophyll per day.

28. Microalgae products as described in any of claims 14 to 18 are cosmetics.

29. A method for manufacturing frozen products, comprising the steps of: preparing a microalgae concentrate by any one of claims 1 to 13; and freezing the microalgae concentrate.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the freezing step includes cooling to below -40°C.

31. The microalgae products mentioned in claim 25 are frozen products.

32. Microalgae products as requested in item 31, which are dairy products without additives, lactic acid ice cream, iced milk or ice cream.

33. The microalgae product of claim 31, comprising one or more of the following: excipients, antioxidants, emulsifiers, and thickeners.

34. The microalgae product of claim 31, which includes one or more of the following: fruit juice and flavoring.

35. The microalgae products of claim 31 are in a plate-like form.

36. A method for manufacturing an oil-impregnated product, comprising the steps of: preparing a microalgae concentrate by any one of claims 1 to 13; and mixing the microalgae with oil.

37. The method of claim 36, which includes the step of adding water to the above-mentioned microalgae concentrate for desalination.

38. The method of claim 36 or 37, which includes the step of freeze-drying the above-mentioned microalgae concentrate.

39. The microalgae products in claim 25 are oil-impregnated products.

40. Microalgae products, such as those in claim 39, contain antioxidants.

41. The microalgae product as claimed in claim 40, wherein the antioxidant comprises α-tocopherol.

42. The microalgae product as claimed in claim 39, which contains 1 to 100% by weight of oil per 1 g of dried algae.

43. Microalgae products, such as those in claim 39, contain emulsifiers.

44. An edible capsule comprising a microalgae product as claimed in any one of claims 39 to 43.

45. The microalgae product of claim 25 is a desiccant containing one or more of the following: a desiccant and an antioxidant.

46. ​​The microalgae products of claim 25 are dried products sealed in a light-proof container.

47. A method for manufacturing dried microalgae, comprising the steps of: preparing a microalgae concentrate by any one of claims 1 to 13; and drying the microalgae concentrate in the presence of one or more of an excipient, an emulsifier, and an antioxidant.

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