Effect of drying methods on extraction of lycopene in tomato skin with supercritical carbon dioxide

Lycopene is one of the naturally occurring carotenoids, which owes its red color attributable to the presence of an extensively conjugated polyene str ucture. Such a structure renders lycopene susceptible to oxidation. Extract ion of lycopene in tomato skin was studied with supercritical carbon dioxid e (SD-CO2). The recovery ratio of lycopene differed according to drying met hods. After being dried each tomato skin by hot-air-drying, freeze-drying o r dehydration with ethanol, lycopene was extracted using SC-CO2 (100 simila r to 270 kg/cm(2), 35 similar to 60%). In the case of dehydration with etha nol, the recovery ratio of lycopene was the highest (about 90%). The recove ry ratio of lycopene increased with an increase in pressure and was the hig hest at 40%.