Lycopene partition in new aqueous two-phase systems

The present work aimed to characterize new aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) formed by polyvinylpyrrolidone 10000 g.mol-1 (PVP10K) + Na2SO4 + H2O, PVP10K + ZnSO4 + H2O and PVP10K + Na2C4H4O6 + H2O at 278.15, 288.15, and 298.15 K as well as several pH values that were used to evaluate the lycopene partition. For all systems, variations in temperature and pH did not significantly influence the biphasic region. As for the influence of cations and anions in the phase segregation process, there was no significant difference between anions SO42 and C4H4O62. Relative to cations, Zn2+ showed a greater capacity to induce phase separation than Na+. However, due to the greater number of electrically charged species per mole of Na2SO4 relative to ZnSO4, the sodium sulfate demonstrated greater efficiency in the phase separation process. The data were adjusted with good correlation using the Merchuk equation for the binodal curves and Othmer-Tobias and Bancroft equations for tie lines. These ATPS were applied to the lycopene partition, with the solute preferentially partitioned to the top phase (3.98 +/- 0. 09 < K < 23.6 +/- 0.3), and the increase in TLL values and temperature caused an increase in the partition coefficient, indicating that the process is directed enthalpically. Thus, these ATPS proved to be an excellent environmentally safe alternative for application in the extraction of lycopene. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study characterized new ATPS formed by PVP10K with different salts and water, with findings showing that temperature and pH had minimal influence on the phase region, sodium sulfate was more efficient than zinc sulfate, and the partition of lycopene in ATPS was driven enthalpically.