Supercritical CO_2 extraction, an effective means to extract antioxidants from sugarcane molasses Running head: Increasing additional values of sugar industry

摘要

Supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extraction was used to obtain antioxidants from sugarcane molasses. The procedure was carried out by response surface methodology using a quadratic polynomial model. Extraction pressure, time, temperature, flow rate of CO_2 and ethanol content were selected as the independent variables. Oxygen radical absorbance capacity was used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of sugarcane molasses extract, and the components were tested using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results showed that conditions to obtain the highest total oxygen radical absorbance capacity value of sugarcane molasses extract were determined to be an extraction pressure of 33.3MPa, temperature of 43.3°C, time of 86.7min, 90% ethanol content of sugarcane molasses and flow rate of CO_2 of 20L/h. The predicted total oxygen radical absorbance capacity value of extracts was 2508.7. Under the conditions stated above, the experimental value was 2584.9, which was similar to the predicted value by the model. This study indicated that supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extraction can effectively extract antioxidants from sugarcane molasses, which may increase the additional values of sugar industry.