Extraction of β–carotene from Hexane phase using Ionic Liquids: Screening suitable Ionic Liquids

β-carotene is one of the biologically active compounds in plants and it contribute major coloring in fruits and vegetables. Carrots, oil palm fruit, sweet potato and other edible plants are currently the main sources of β-carotene. The benefits of β-carotene were antioxidant activity, inhibiting growth of colon cancer, food additives and high added-value product for cosmetics and pharmaceutical. In addition, the applications of β-carotene are mainly in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Typically, the current extraction process of β-carotene had done through supercritical fluid extraction, ultrasound assisted extraction and conventional extraction using organic solvent. However, this process needs special equipment and very expensive. Therefore, to overcome these problems, Ionic liquids will be alternatives process to extract β-carotene from hexane using Ionic Liquids. For this research, the main objective was to extract β-carotene from hexane using Ionic Liquids and the specific objectives were to find suitable Ionic Liquids that can extract β-carotene selectively and to optimize the extraction parameters. The focus of this study was screening suitable Ionic Liquids using COSMO-RS Software and validation through experiment laboratory work. From COSMO-RS findings, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate [EMIM] was suitable Ionic Liquids while from experiment laboratory work findings, 8 hours was identified as optimum extraction time and 1:1 ionic liquids to standard solution ratio was identified as optimum ratio. Besides, 100 rpm was the highest extraction rate. As conclusion, this study would help the development of Ionic Liquids in extraction of β-carotene from hexane.