PROCEDURE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A LYCOPENE CONCENTRATE FREE OF ORGANIC SOLVENTS, THE CONCENTRATE OBTAINED AND THE COMPOSITION OF THIS CONCENTRATE

摘要

The procedure concerns placing into contact a lycopene source with a supercritical fluid under conditions that permit the solubilisation of lycopene in this supercritical fluid and to separate the lycopene concentrate by depressurisation of the supercritical fluid loaded with lycopene. When the depressurisation is carried out at pressures below 10 MPa, an oleoresin is obtained and when it is performed at pressures above this an extract is obtained, both of which are rich in lycopene free of organic solvents. The concentrate and the compositions it comprises have antioxidant properties and are useful for elaborating food products, cosmetics and pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products.