DETERMINATION OF OPTIMUM CONDITIONS FOR SUPERCRITICAL-FLUID EXTRACTION OF CAROTENOIDS FROM CARROT (DAUCUS-CAROTA L) TISSUE

The extraction and assay of antioxidant vitamins, such as carotenes, by traditional solvent extraction (TSE) require multiple steps, are time-consuming, and consume large amounts of organic solvent. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), a newer method for extracting natural products, is cost effective and eliminates toxic organic waste. The objective of this study was to optimize SFE of carotenoids from freeze-dried carrots and to compare this extraction to TSE. To optimize SFE for carotenoids, a factorial experiment was conducted. The factors assessed were the temperature of the sample chamber (30, 40, or 50 degrees C), the pressure of the extraction fluid (300, 400, or 500 atm), and cosolvent modification (5 or 10% ethanol). The optimum conditions for extraction of alpha-carotene and beta-carotene by SFE were 50 degrees C, 300 atm, and 10% cosolvent ethanol. Total provitamin A activity (alpha- plus beta-carotene) was greater in SFE than in TSE. The time required for SFE is 1 h as compared to 6 h for TSE. SFE is a reliable and improved method for extraction of carotenoids from carrot tissue.