From laboratory to scale-up by modelling in two cases of β-carotene extraction from vegetable products

The laboratory investigation of beta-carotene separation from rose hip fruits (RHFs) powder and carrot noodles (CNs) was analyzed by means of mathematical modelling, in order to develop models for process scale-up. The developed models contain parameters characterizing species transport inside and outside of vegetal material particle as well as species interphase equilibrium distribution. The model parameters were estimated by experimental data capitalization. The solvent type, liquid-solid ratio and extraction temperature were selected as process factors in 13carotene extraction. Having a significant influence on the process yield, these factors determined the values of model parameters. A model based on process control by external diffusion of extracted species and particle swelling was adopted for beta-carotene extraction from RHFs, whereas an internal diffusion one was chosen to describe the process in the case of beta-carotene extraction from CNs. The model parameters were identified by least squares method using theoretical and experimental data characterizing the dynamics of species extraction yield. The scale-up of counter current multistage extraction was performed through analysis of the processes studied at laboratory level. (C) 2014 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.