Effect of surfactants on the photodecomposition of betalains

• Grant number: 22/13306-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): February 01, 2023
• Effective date (End): January 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Erick Leite Bastos
• Grantee: Pedro Augusto Loiola
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This undergraduate research project aims to determine how surfactants of different classes influence the photoinduced decomposition of betalains. For this, betanin and indicaxanthin, natural betalains used as coloring in foods, will be used. The decomposition kinetics of betalains in aqueous media containing surfactants will be monitored during laser excitation around their absorption maxima in the visible region. The effects of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS, anionic), cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTACl, cationic), sulfobetaine 3-14 (SB3-14, neutral zwitterionic) and Trition X-100 (neutral) will be investigated under neutral and alkaline conditions at different temperatures to determine activation parameters.