A chemical study of β-carotene oxidation by ozone in an organic model system and the identification of the resulting products

► We study the degradation of β-carotene in solution, under the influence of ozone. ► Carbonyl compounds formed were collected on C18 cartridges and analyzed by LC-MS. ► β-Carotene decays were from 17.2% to 99.8% and follow a zero order kinetic model. ► 14 Oxidation products were identified and their possible formation pathways proposed.