STUDY OF THE MOLECULAR DISTILLATION PROCESS TO OBTEIN b-CAROTENE (PRÓ-VITAMIN A) FROM OIL DE PALMA

• Grant number: 07/06200-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2008
• End date: February 28, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Industrial Operations and Equipment for Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Maria Regina Wolf Maciel
• Grantee: Luisa Fernanda Rios Pinto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Looking to reduce their cost and achieve a positive image among their customers, the main local and foreign industries are turning to alternatives and natural sources for their raw materials. However working with raw materials that come from natural sources presents a major disadvantage: a low purity due to the process used to obtain them. Therefore the development of strategies that allow preserving the bioactive components with the minimum amount of toxic sub-products are fundamental to guaranteeing the quality and thus the safety of the products when they are used for human consumption as food, make up, or pharmaceuticals. In this project, we propose to perform an experimental study of the molecular distillation as a method of extraction of β-carotenes from palm oil, since molecular distillation allows to obtain and to purify materials that are thermic unstable like the case of most natural products, especially essentials oils which still need the use of solvents. Furthermore a simulation will be made to optimize the feeding rates and operation temperatures.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

PINTO, Luisa Fernanda Rios. Study of the molecular distillation process to obtein beta-carotene (pro-vitamin A) from palm oil. 2010. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Engenharia Química Campinas, SP.