IONIC LIQUIDS FOR EXTRACTION OF B CAROTENE: MODELING AND EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHES

Bcarotene, an important bio-molecule with highly unsaturated heavy structure
(C4oHs6) is available in plenty of natural products. This hydrocarbon with noticeable
antioxidant is a valuable compound in food and pharmaceutical industries. ~-carotene
has been extracted from different sources using several techniques including super
critical fluid extraction, ultrasound assisted extraction and traditional solvent
extraction. However, these methods have several limitations. For instance, adverse
operating conditions, extensively usage of VOCs and required special equipment. To
overcome abovementioned issues, development of a novel method for ~-carotene
extraction was considered. Recently, ionic liquids (ILs) - green and tailor made
solvents - have been involved in bio-molecules extraction and shown to be efficient
replacement for conventional solvents.