EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENT FACTORS ON THE BETA -CAROTENE REACTIVITY TOWARDOXYGEN AND FREE-RADICALS

The effect of oxygen partial pressure and solvent on the kinetics of b eta-carotene consumption and oxygen uptake in the course of beta-carot ene oxidation has been studied. The reaction of free radical formation , i.e. the chain initiation reaction that occurs via interaction of be ta-carotene with oxygen and chain branching reactions that occur via i nteraction of intermediate products with oxygen, are found to be the m ost sensitive to the effect of environmental factors. These reactions determine the dependence of the beta-carotene consumption and oxygen u ptake rates on the oxygen partial pressure. The reaction rates increas e in polar solvents which causes the increase in the beta-carotene con sumption and oxygen uptake rates. The rates of peroxyl radical destruc tion and/or Isomerization Increase In polar media, which leads to the formation of low molecular weight polar oxidation products.