The master's thesis aims to characterize the sustainable solvent CyreneTM and its application for the extraction of pigments from lyophilized samples of plant origin. We found that CyreneTM strongly absorbs in the UV part of the spectrum, while is the absorbance above 430 nm negligible. CyreneTM aqueous solutions are acidic (pH = 3.8). CyreneTM interfers in tests for the analysis of antioxidant potential. In the Folin Ciocalteu test, CyreneTM gives 132 TE/L 100 % CyreneTM, 20.7 TE/L 100 % CyreneTM in the ABTS test and 13.2 TE/L 100 % CyreneTM in the DPPH test. Pigments from lyophilized wheat grass, corn gluten, carrot, beetroot, chokeberry and blueberry were effectively extracted with aqueous CyreneTM solutions. Nonpolar carotenes from carrot were the most efficiently extracted with 100 % CyreneTM, and more polar xanthophylls of the carotenoid group, from corn gluten, with 80 % CyreneTM. Chlorophylls from wheat grass were most efficiently extracted with 95% CyreneTM, while extraction of relatively polar anthocyanins from chokeberry and blueberry, and betalaine from beetroot was the most effective with 40% to 60% CyreneTM. The ratio of lyophilisate to solvent in the range of 1:10 to 1: 100 had a relatively small effect on the extraction efficiency. A comparison of the extraction efficiency with aqueous CyreneTM solutions and traditionally used solvents revealed that betalains are the most efficiently extracted with CyreneTM solution, while the extraction of other pigments is poorer as compared to conventional solvents.
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