Extraction of lutein from Marigold flower petals – Experimental kinetics and modelling

The extraction kinetics behaviour of lutein from Marigold flower petals and simultaneous alkali hydrolysis has been studied. Extraction was carried out by varying following operating conditions: type of organic solvent, temperature, ratio liquid: material, concentration of alkali solution, and particle size of plant material. Experimental extraction curves were analysed with a mathematical model derived from Fick's second law. The extraction of lutein appeared to be governed by slow and fast diffusion processes. Results showed that the intra-particle diffusion was the rate-governing step of the extraction process, and that the chosen model gives very good approximation of experimental data.