Improving carotenoid extraction from tomato waste by pulsed electric fields

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Biotechnology
• Extraction Technology

Background:

• Carotenoids are valuable compounds found in tomato byproducts.
• Efficient extraction methods are needed to recover these compounds.
• Pulsed electric fields (PEFs) offer a non-thermal processing option for enhancing extraction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of PEF treatment on carotenoid extraction from tomato peel and pulp.
• To optimize PEF parameters (intensity and time) for maximum extraction yield.
• To explore the potential of PEF in reducing the use of less green solvents in extraction.

Main Methods:

• Tomato peel and pulp were treated with PEFs at varying intensities (3-7 kV/cm) and durations (0-300 μs).
• Carotenoid extraction was performed using a hexane:acetone:ethanol solvent mixture.
• Cellular disintegration index was used to determine optimal PEF treatment time (90 μs).
• Response surface methodology was employed to assess hexane reduction in the solvent mixture.

Main Results:

• PEF treatment at 5 kV/cm significantly increased carotenoid extraction from tomato peel by 39% compared to the control.
• PEF permeabilization did not significantly enhance carotenoid extraction from tomato pulp.
• Acetone in the solvent mixture did not improve extraction from PEF-treated tomato peels.
• PEF application enabled a reduction in hexane percentage from 45% to 30% without affecting carotenoid yield.
• Antioxidant capacity of extracts correlated with carotenoid concentration and was unaffected by PEF.

Conclusions:

• PEF treatment is an effective method for enhancing carotenoid extraction from tomato peel.
• PEF technology facilitates the reduction of less green solvents in extraction processes.
• Optimized PEF application can improve the sustainability and efficiency of carotenoid recovery from tomato waste.