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Interdisciplinary Chemistry Experiment: An Environmentally Benign Extraction of Lycopene

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Jie Zhu , Mingjie Zhang and Qingwei Liu

Department of Chemistry, School of Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China

J. Chem. Educ., 2008, 85 (2), p 256

DOI: 10.1021/ed085p256

Publication Date (Web): February 1, 2008

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

A novel experiment for the extraction of lycopene from tomato paste without the use of an organic solvent is described. The experiment employs polymer, green, and analytical chemistry. This environmentally friendly extraction is more efficient and requires less time than the traditional approach using an organic solvent. The extraction is accomplished using an aqueous emulsion. The emulsifying agent CPS, which is a co-polymerization product from acrylic acid, n-butyl acrylate, and styrene monomers, is generated as a part of the experiment. The emulsion can be reused by simple basification. This experiment acquaints students with a polymerization reaction, the extraction of a natural product, and provides experience with thin-layer chromatography and UV–vis spectroscopy, which are used for purity determination and identification, respectively. During the experiment, students gain an understanding of the overlap among the different fields of chemistry and the concept of green chemistry. The experiment is suitable for upper-level chemistry laboratories.

Keywords (Audience):

Upper-Division Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Organic Chemistry

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives

Keywords (Subject):

Agricultural Chemistry

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This article has been cited by 2 ACS Journal articles (2 most recent appear below).

Foam Fractionation of Lycopene: An Undergraduate Chemistry Experiment
Yan Wang, Mingjie Zhang and Yongliang Hu
Journal of Chemical Education2010 87 (5), 510-511
- Foam Fractionation of Lycopene: An Undergraduate Chemistry Experiment
  Yan Wang, Mingjie Zhang and Yongliang Hu
  Journal of Chemical Education2010 87 (5), 510-511
  A novel experiment for the extraction of lycopene from tomato paste by foam fractionation is described. Foam fractionation is a process for separating and concentrating chemicals by utilizing differences in their surface activities. Extraction of lycopene ...
  Abstract | Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links
Molecular Models of Lycopene and Other Carotenoids
William F. Coleman
Journal of Chemical Education2008 85 (2), 320
- Molecular Models of Lycopene and Other Carotenoids
  William F. Coleman
  Journal of Chemical Education2008 85 (2), 320
  This month's Featured Molecules include the carotenoids lycopene and beta-carotene.
  Abstract | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links