| Abstract: | The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as co-solvents for the ethanolic extraction of total carotenoids from buriti fruit (Mauritia flexuosa L.). Choline chloride-based DESs were synthesized by the heating method. The systems were prepared using ethanol and DESs as a co-solvent in concentrations of 0.5–70.0% (w/v). In addition, a control condition was performed using ethanol as the sole solvent. The total carotenoid concentration in the systems was determined by spectrophotometry at 450 nm. The results showed that the ethanol used without co-solvent obtained total carotenoid yields of 10.06 ± 0.03 mg/g for the buriti pulp and 10.43 ± 1.27 mg/g for the buriti peel. In turn, the use of choline chloride-based DESs as co-solvents did not increase the ethanolic extraction yield of carotenoids. However, it was observed that the buriti peel can be a rich source of carotenoids with yields comparable to the fruit. Thus, it is suggested that new green solvents be evaluated to increase the recovery of total carotenoids from buriti fruit using ecofriendly processes. |
