CAROTENOIDS ACHIEVING FROM TOMATOES DISCARDED USING IONIC LIQUIDS AS EXTRACTING FOR APPLICATION IN FOOD INDUSTRY

Abstract

This work aims to evaluate the application of ionic liquid to extraction carotenoids from discarded tomatoes to use in food industry as a bioactive component or natural colorant. Tomato samples that would be discarded were donated, without any classifications or selections of fruits. Different ionic liquid derivate of 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium were tested in the extraction. Carotenoids determinations qualitative and quantitative were done using HPLC-PAD-MS/MS. Comparative of acetone a conventional solvent and ionic liquid extraction allowed estimate the most applicative techniques to obtain the carotenoids, specially the lycopene. Results were promising confirm hexafluorophosphate 1-butyl- 3- methylimidazolium ionic liquid as the best able to extract 5.56 μg/g of lycopene, value significantly higher than when the employee conventional solvent acetone with 3.65 μg/g, concluding that ionic liquid application in extraction process is a viable alternative, which follow the Green Chemistry principals, minimizing contaminates and optimizing obtainment of nature pigments important, as the carotenoids.

Index Terms - Ionic liquid application, lycopene.