Preparation process of lycopene.

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Lycopene

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1. Introduction

Lycopene is a natural pigment that belongs to the carotenoid family. It is well - known for its antioxidant properties and potential health benefits. Tomatoes are the major source of Lycopene, and the preparation process of Lycopene from tomatoes is of great significance in the fields of food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. This article will comprehensively discuss the preparation process of lycopene, including raw material pretreatment, extraction methods, separation and purification.

2. Raw material pretreatment

The first step in the preparation of lycopene is the pretreatment of raw materials, mainly tomatoes. The following are the main operations:

2.1 Washing

Tomatoes need to be thoroughly washed to remove dirt, pesticides, and other contaminants on the surface. Clean tomatoes are essential for ensuring the quality of the final product. This step can be carried out using clean water or appropriate detergents, followed by rinsing to ensure that no detergent residue remains.

2.2 Crushing

After washing, the tomatoes are crushed to break the cell walls and release the lycopene - containing substances. There are different methods of crushing, such as mechanical crushing using crushers or blenders. Crushing should be carried out under appropriate conditions to avoid excessive heat generation, which may cause the degradation of lycopene. For example, some crushers are equipped with cooling systems to maintain a relatively low temperature during the crushing process.

3. Extraction methods

Once the tomatoes are pretreated, the next step is to extract lycopene. There are mainly two types of extraction methods: traditional solvent extraction and enzymatic extraction.

3.1 Traditional solvent extraction

• Solvent selection: Common solvents used for lycopene extraction include hexane, ethyl acetate, and acetone. These solvents are chosen based on their solubility properties for lycopene. For example, hexane has a relatively high solubility for lycopene, which can effectively dissolve lycopene from the tomato matrix.
• Extraction process: The crushed tomato material is mixed with the solvent in a suitable ratio. Then, the mixture is stirred for a certain period, usually several hours to ensure sufficient contact between the solvent and the lycopene - containing substances. After that, the mixture is filtered to separate the solvent - containing lycopene extract from the solid residue.
• Limitations: However, traditional solvent extraction has some limitations. One of the main problems is that the solvents may be toxic, and it is necessary to ensure complete removal of the solvent residues in the final product. Additionally, the extraction efficiency may not be as high as expected in some cases.

3.2 Enzymatic extraction

• Enzyme selection: Enzymes such as cellulase, pectinase, and protease can be used for enzymatic extraction of lycopene. These enzymes can break down the cell wall components of tomatoes, such as cellulose and pectin, making it easier for lycopene to be released. For instance, cellulase can hydrolyze cellulose, which is an important component of the cell wall, thereby increasing the permeability of the cell wall.
• Extraction process: First, the appropriate enzymes are added to the pretreated tomato material, and the reaction is carried out under specific conditions of temperature, pH, and reaction time. The optimal conditions for different enzymes may vary. For example, the optimal pH for cellulase may be around 4.5 - 5.5, and the optimal temperature may be around 40 - 50 °C. After the enzymatic reaction, the mixture is centrifuged or filtered to obtain the lycopene - rich extract.
• Advantages: Enzymatic extraction has several advantages over traditional solvent extraction. It can improve the extraction efficiency because the enzymes can specifically break down the cell wall structures, releasing more lycopene. Moreover, enzymatic extraction is more environmentally friendly as it does not require the use of large amounts of toxic solvents, and the resulting product is of relatively high quality.

4. Separation and purification

After obtaining the lycopene extract, it is necessary to carry out separation and purification steps to obtain high - quality lycopene.

4.1 Initial separation

• Centrifugation: Centrifugation can be used to separate the solid particles and large - molecular - weight impurities from the lycopene extract. By applying a centrifugal force, the heavier particles are forced to the bottom of the centrifuge tube, while the lycopene - containing supernatant can be collected.
• Filtration: Filtration is another common method for initial separation. Membrane filtration, such as microfiltration or ultrafiltration, can be used to remove smaller - sized impurities while retaining the lycopene. The pore size of the membrane can be selected according to the size of the impurities to be removed.

4.2 Purification using high - performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

• Principle: HPLC is a powerful analytical and purification technique based on the differential partitioning of the components in a mobile phase and a stationary phase. In the case of lycopene purification, the lycopene - containing sample is injected into the HPLC system. The mobile phase, which is a solvent or a mixture of solvents, carries the sample through a column filled with a stationary phase. Different components in the sample, including lycopene and other impurities, interact differently with the stationary phase, resulting in different retention times. Lycopene can be separated from the impurities based on its specific retention time.
• Operating conditions: The selection of the mobile phase and the stationary phase is crucial for HPLC purification. For lycopene, a non - polar stationary phase such as a C18 column is often used, and the mobile phase may be a mixture of organic solvents such as methanol and acetonitrile. The flow rate of the mobile phase, the column temperature, and the injection volume also need to be optimized to achieve the best purification effect.
• Advantages: HPLC offers high resolution and high sensitivity in purifying lycopene. It can effectively remove various impurities, including other carotenoids and organic compounds, resulting in a highly pure lycopene product. This is very important for the application of lycopene in high - end products such as pharmaceuticals and high - quality dietary supplements.

5. Conclusion

The preparation process of lycopene involves multiple steps, from raw material pretreatment to extraction and finally to separation and purification. Each step plays a crucial role in obtaining high - quality lycopene. With the development of technology, new methods and techniques are constantly emerging to improve the efficiency and quality of lycopene preparation. The production of high - quality lycopene is essential for its wide - range applications in health - care products, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and other fields. Future research may focus on further optimizing the existing processes, exploring new extraction and purification methods, and expanding the application scope of lycopene.

FAQ:

1. What are the main pretreatment operations for tomatoes in the preparation of lycopene?

The main pretreatment operations for tomatoes in the preparation of lycopene may include washing and crushing. Washing helps to remove dirt and impurities on the surface of tomatoes, and crushing is to break the tomato structure for subsequent extraction steps.

2. Why is enzymatic extraction considered in the extraction of lycopene?

Enzymatic extraction is considered in the extraction of lycopene because it can improve the extraction efficiency and quality. Enzymes can break down cell walls and release lycopene more effectively compared to traditional solvent extraction alone.

3. How does high - performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) purify lycopene?

High - performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) purifies lycopene by separating different components based on their different affinities to the stationary and mobile phases. It can precisely isolate lycopene from other substances in the extract, thus obtaining high - purity lycopene.

4. What are the applications of lycopene?

Lycopene has wide - range applications in health - care products and dietary supplements. It is also potentially beneficial for antioxidant functions and may contribute to overall health promotion.

5. Are there any other methods for separating and purifying lycopene?

Besides high - performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), there may be other methods for separating and purifying lycopene. For example, column chromatography can also be used in some cases. However, HPLC is a very powerful and commonly used tool due to its high efficiency and precision.

Related literature

• The Extraction and Purification of Lycopene: A Review"
• "Lycopene: Preparation, Properties and Potential Health Benefits"
• "Advances in Lycopene Production Technologies"