Ionic liquid-high performance extractive approach to recover carotenoids from Bactris gasipaes fruits

Author(s)

de Souza Mesquita, Leonardo M. ^[1] ; Ventura, Sonia P. M. ^[2] ; Braga, Anna R. C. ^{[3, 1]} ; Pisani, Luciana P. ^[1] ; Dias, V, Ana C. R. ; de Rosso, Veridiana V. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Fed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Biosci, Silva Jardim St, 136 Vila Mathias, BR-11015020 Santos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Aveiro, Dept Chem, CICECO Aveiro Inst Mat, P-3810193 Aveiro - Portugal

^[3] Fed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Exact & Earth Sci, Campus Diadema, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: GREEN CHEMISTRY; v. 21, n. 9, p. 2380-2391, MAY 7 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

Nowadays, one of the biggest challenges for society is the development of appropriate technologies to process the waste residue produced worldwide. In the food sector, the generated waste is estimated to be nearly billions of tons annually. Brazil is one of the most representative examples of the economic and industrial potential of underexplored residues and raw materials. The palm heart, scientifically known as Bactris gasipaes, mainly its fruits, is one of the many examples found in Brazilian flora. The fruits have significant amounts of carotenoids, namely, the all-trans-beta-carotene, all-trans-lycopene and the rare all-trans-gamma-carotene, which are considered as excellent raw materials of commercial interest. However, the main challenge that remains is their efficient recovery. This work proposes the development of a performant process of extraction mediated by the use of ionic liquid (IL)-based ethanolic solutions. Four ILs were examined, as well as the solid-liquid ratio R(S/L), number of extractions, the time of extraction, the co-solvent-ratio R(IL/E) and the homogenization method employed. After selecting the best solvent ({[}C(4)mim]{[}BF4]) and process conditions (extraction yield of 172 +/- 18 mu g(carotenoids) g(dried biomass)(-1)), the IL-ethanolic solution recyclability was tested by freezing/precipitating the IL (maximum of 94% of IL recovered), proving its success for at least 10 cycles while decreasing the process carbon footprint by 50% compared with the conventional method using acetone. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/23242-8 - Carotenoids extraction from Bactris gasipaes with ionic liquids and its application in metabolic programming model
• Grantee: Leonardo Mendes de Souza Mesquita
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 16/18910-1 - Ionic Liquids as Green Extractors for Achievement of Carotenoids: Study of Bioavailability and Antioxidant Activit
• Grantee: Veridiana Vera de Rosso
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants