Navideh Anarjan - Department of chemical Engineering, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran

Extraction and size reduction of carotenoid into nanodispersion systems were performed in thisresearch, simultaneously, using ultrasonication in either extraction or emulsification processes,through solvent diffusion technique. The effects of ultrasound conditions in extraction step,namely, time (10, 15, 20 min), cycles (0.2, 0.5, 0.8, 1) and amplitude (20, 50, 80%), as well as theratio of dry waste weight to solvent volume (10, 25, 40 g/mL) were subsequently evaluated onparticle size, particle uniformity and carotenoid content of produced nanodispersions. A threecomponentsolvent system composed of 31% hexane, 31% acetone and 38% ethyl acetate, wasused for carotenoid extraction from tomato waste. The results indicated that all studiedprocess variables had significant (p<0.05) effects on most studied physicochemicalcharacteristics of produced nanodispersions. The best nanoparticles were obtained using 15min ultrasonication with cycle and amplitude of 0.8 in 80%, respectively. Moreover, using drywaste weight and solvent volume with the ration of 25 g/mL led to production ofnanodispersions with highest carotenoid content. Therefore, the production of the mostdesired nanodispersions (least particle size, polydispersity and highest lycopene content) wouldbe possible by proper choices of process variables’ levels.

Tomato waste, Extraction, Carotenoid content, nanodispersions, ultrasonication