Isolation of Vitamin A
In nature vitamin A is largely found as an ester and consequently, is highly soluble in organic solvents but not in aqueous solutions.
The major pro vitamin carotenoid, B-carotene, has similar solvent properties. One of the richest sources of vitamin A is liver tissue, in particular the liver oils of marine fish and mammals.
The ester can be directly isolated from these oils by molecular distillation at very low pressure, a procedure that has been used extensively for the commercial preparation of vitamins A - rich oils.
Alternatively, vitamin A might be directly extracted with chloroform or with some other solvent combination, such as hexane together with ethanol, followed by purification of vitamin A by chromatographic means.
To hydrolyze esters not only of vitamin A and carotenoids but also of triglycerides and other lipids saponification with KOH is commonly used, followed by extraction with organic solvents.
Retinol or its esters can be readily crystallized at low temperature from a variety of organic solvents, including ethyl format, propylene oxide, and methanol.
Isolation of Vitamin A
The primary goal of food is to promote our health and general well-being. Food science entails comprehending the characteristics, composition, and behaviors of food constituents in different situations, such as storage, handling, and consumption.
January 14, 2010
The Most Popular Posts
-
Crude fat is the term used to refer to the crude mixture of fat-soluble material present in a sample. Crude fat also known as the ether ext...
-
Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenol found in a range of plants, particularly in the skin of red grapes, blueberries, raspberries...
-
Gelatinization occurs when starch granules are heated in a liquid. It is responsible for the thickening of food systems. The process is an i...
-
Crude fiber is a measure of the quantity of indigestible cellulose, pentosans, lignin, and other components of this type in present foods. ...
-
Theophylline in Natural Sources: Stimulant and Health Benefits in Cocoa, Tea, Guarana, and Kola NutsTheophylline is naturally present in cocoa beans, with Criollo cocoa beans containing up to 3.7 mg/g, making them a significant source of th...