Experimental optimization of supercritical extraction of β-carotene from Aloe barbadensis Miller via genetic algorithm

Effect of pressure on the extraction yield of β-carotene via modeling and experimental investigation at T=323.15K, Q=1ml CO2/min. [Display omitted] ► Experimental supercritical CO2 extraction of β-carotene from leaf skin of Aloe vera was investigated. ► The shrinking core modeling was used for prediction of extraction results. ► The effect of operating conditions on the extraction yield was investigated. ► The optimal operating conditions were obtained using genetic algorithm. In this study, experimental supercritical CO2 extraction of β-carotene from leaf skin of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller) was investigated and modeling of this system was developed in order to predict the extraction yield as a function of effective operating variables. The results of β-carotene extraction via supercritical CO2 were compared with the conventional Soxhlet extraction from almost 5g of Aloe vera skin with 100ml petroleum ether as solvent. The shrinking core model was applied in the simulation which is similar to irreversible desorption of a solute from a porous adsorbent. The modeling predictions are very well compatible with the experimental data. The β-carotene extraction yield was determined as a function of temperature, pressure, CO2 flow rate and dynamic extraction time. The genetic algorithm (GA) was used to determine the optimal operating conditions in which the maximum amount of β-carotene extraction yield was obtained.