Microwave Extraction of Carotenoid from Orange Peel

[Objective] The study aimed to explore the process conditions of extracting carotenoid from orange peel with microwave extraction.[Method] The carotenoid was extracted from orange peel by using microwave-assisted extraction,with β-carotene as standard sample,the carotenoid content was determined with ultraviolet spectrophotometer and the extraction rate was calculated.[Result] The single-factor experiment showed that the extraction rate was the highest when chloroform was taken as extractant,and the next was petroleum ether.The extraction rate was the highest when microwave power was 560 W,and extraction rate was increased slowly after 55 s.The extraction rate was only increased slightly with the rising up of solid-liquid ratio when the solid-liquid ratio was more than 1∶25.The extraction rate of the 2nd time microwave extraction was obviously higher than that of the 1st time extraction.The effect of each factor on extraction rate of carotenoid from orange peel was in the order as:microwave power extraction times extraction time solid-liquid ratio.The optimal process conditions were:microwave power was 560 W,solid-liquid ratio was 1∶20,extracted for twice and 60 s per time,under these technological conditions,the extraction rate of carotenoid from orange peel was 7.51 mg/100 g.[Conclusion] The study was reduced the production cost of carotenoid,and increased the sources of carotenoid.