Co-Precipitation of ß-Carotene and Polyethylene Glycol with Compressed CO2 as an Antisolvent: Effect of Temperature and Concentration

FACUNDO MATTEA; ÁNGEL MARTÍN; MARÍA JOSÉ COCERO

AMER CHEMICAL SOC

Año: 2008 vol. 47 p. 3900 - 3900

n this work, the coprecipitation of ß-carotene and polyethylene glycol (PEG) is studied. First, the effect of pressure and temperature was studied (pressures of 8-12 MPa, temperatures of 288-313 K), Afterward, the effect of the initial concentration of the different substances on the morphologies of the particles was studied. X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis were used to observe the nature of the particles that were obtained. The results indicated the sensitivity of the precipitation to temperature, making impossible to obtain particles at temperatures above 288 K. With regard to the concentration effect on the morphology of the particles, it was possible to obtain different morphologies just by changing the concentration ratio between the substances. Also, the analysis of the coprecipitates indicated that the ß-carotene inside the polymer matrix must be in an amorphous form.