SUPERCRITICAL CARBON-DIOXIDE EXTRACTION EFFICIENCY FOR CAROTENES FROMCARROTS BY RSM

Increasing demand for beta-carotene has resulted in a growing interest in its extraction from natural sources. Carotenes were extracted from carrot pulp (press cake) using SC-CO2. Three levels of pressure (20.7 , 27.6, and 34.5 MPa), temperature (40, 55, and 70 degrees C), and eth anol co-solvent (0, 5, 10% wt) were studied. Percentages alpha-, beta- and total carotenes extracted were determined by HPLC and spectrophot ometric methods. A maximum of 99.5% of beta-carotene was extracted usi ng 10% ethanol. Concentration of ethanol and temperature were the most important factors in increasing extraction yield. A response surface model was developed from the results: %beta-carotene extraction = 8.45 58 + 0.8816 T - 10.7650 E + 0.1843 TE + 1.9019 E(2) - 0.0261 E(2)*T, where T = temperature (degrees C), E = ethanol(%). R(2) = 0.973.