Application of D-optimal design for automatic solvent extraction of carotenoid from orange peel

Abstract

Automatic solvent extraction (ASE) was employed to acquire orange peel extract rich in carotenoid by means of several solvents (hexane, heptane, and chloroform). D-optimal design was used for the design of experiments, modeling the experimental data, and optimization of the extraction process. Selected process parameters (extraction time, particle size of the peel, and solvent type) for the current ASE system were found statistically significant at p < .0001. The highest effect was achieved by particle size, followed by extraction time and solvent. The maximum beta-carotene yield (86.85 mg per g fresh peel) was reached by 1.53 mm particle diameter peel material with heptane for similar to 46 min of ASE time. Then, carotenoid-rich extract was applied as a natural food additive to increase the oxidative stability of the sunflower oil by increasing the induction time more than twice.