Preservation of Carotenoids in Oil from Palm Pressed Fiber extracted using Hexane + Alcohol Mixtures as Solvents

• Grant number: 15/07370-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: September 01, 2015
• End date: August 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Christianne Elisabete da Costa Rodrigues
• Grantee: Maitê Sarria Cuevas
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Although been a rich material with nutraceutical components and considerable residual oil content (5 to 6 mass % on a dry weight basis), the palm pressed fiber recovered from pressed palm fruits is a residue normally burned for energy supply. The extraction of the residual oil with n-hexane allows to obtain an oil rich in nutraceutical components, including the ²-carotene. However, the replacement of hexane is desirable due to its high toxicity and flammability.The main aim of this research project is extract palm pressed fiber (PPF) oil rich in carotenoids using a solvent mixture containing hexane + short chain alcohol. The solvent mixture allows partial replacement of hexane and may provide a synergistic effect on the solubility of ²-carotene. In order to select an appropriate solvent mixture the calculation of the solubility parameters of ²-carotene and solvents (hexane and short chain alcohols such as ethanol, n-propanol and 2-propanol) will be carried out. Solubility data of ²-carotene at temperature range from 10 up to 50 ° C will be experimentally determined and these equilibrium data will be modeled using the theory of Scatchard-Hildebrand. Finally, the PPF oil will be extracted using the mixture of solvents and this oil will be analyzed with respect to their quality and nutraceutical component preservation.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CUEVAS, MAITE S.; CAPELLINI, MARIA CAROLINA; RODRIGUES, CHRISTIANNE E. C.; MEIRELLES, ANTONIO J. A.. Preservation of minor components and deacidification of rice bran oil using strong anionic resin. JOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, v. 44, n. 9, SEP 2020. (14/21252-0, 15/07370-3, 18/12713-5, 17/20840-4)

CUEVAS, MAITE S.; DE SOUZA, PATRICIA T.; DA COSTA RODRIGUES, CHRISTIANNE E.; MEIRELLES, ANTONIO J. A.. Quantification and Determination of Composition of Steryl Ferulates in Refined Rice Bran Oils Using an UPLC-MS Method. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN OIL CHEMISTS SOCIETY, v. 94, n. 3, p. 375-385, MAR 2017. (09/54137-1, 15/07370-3, 08/56258-8, 14/09446-4, 14/21252-0)

CUEVAS, MAITE S.; CREVELIN, EDUARDO J.; DE MORAES, LUIZ A. B.; OLIVEIRA, ALESSANDRA L.; RODRIGUES, CHRISTIANNE E. C.; MEIRELLES, ANTONIO J. A.. Solubility of commercial octacosanol in organic solvents and their correlation by thermodynamic models at different temperatures. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL THERMODYNAMICS, v. 110, p. 186-192, JUL 2017. (14/21252-0, 14/09446-4, 15/07370-3, 07/06170-4, 08/56258-8)