abstract
In this work, a process for the extraction and purification of carotenoids from the fruit Bactris gasipaes was developed. Ethanolic and aqueous solutions of ionic liquids (ILs) and surfactants were evaluated on the extraction of these pigments. Thus, we developed an optimized sustainable downstream process mediated by the best solvent with further isolation of the carotenoids and the recyclability of the IL used. The process was characterized not only in terms of efficiency but also regarding its environmental impact. The recyclability of the solvents as well as the high efficiency (maximum yield of extraction of carotenoids = 88.7 +/- 0.9 mu g(carotenoids).g(dried) (-1)(biomass)) and the low environmental impact of the integrated process developed in this work were demonstrated. In the end, in order to incorporate functional activity for an alternative food-packaging material, carotenoids were successfully applied on the preparation of chitosan-based films with excellent results regarding their mechanical parameters and antioxidant activity.
keywords
ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY; BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS; AQUEOUS-SOLUTIONS; EXTRACTION; SUSTAINABILITY; CHROMOPLASTS; SURFACTANTS; FABRICATION; PRODUCTS; LYCOPENE
subject category
Chemistry; Science & Technology - Other Topics; Engineering
authors
Mesquita, LMD; Martins, M; Maricato, E; Nunes, C; Quinteiro, PSGN; Dias, ACRV; Coutinho, JAP; Pisani, LP; de Rosso, VV; Ventura, SPM
our authors
Cláudia Nunes
Assistant Researcher
Margarida Martins
PhD Student
Sónia Patrícia Marques Ventura
Assistant Professoracknowledgements
This work was supported by Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo-FAPESP through the project (2016/18910-1), fellowship (2016/23242-8), and BEPE fellowship (2018/10705-5). This work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, UIDB/50011/2020 & UIDP/50011/2020, financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC and when appropriate co-financed by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. The authors are grateful for the financial support of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for the contract SFRH/BD/122220/2016 and IF/00402/2015 of M. Martins and S.P.M.V., respectively. A.C.R.V.D. and P.S.G.N.Q. acknowledge FCT for the contracts CEECIND/02174/2017 and CEECIND/00143/2017, respectively, and for the financial support to CESAM (UID/AMB/50017/2019), through national funds.