Turmeric (Curcuma longa L) is one of the most used source of natural color in the food industry. Curcuminoids can be obtained from the roots of this plant. These pigments impact a yellow color and they might be able to substitute synthetic dyes. Turmeric oleoresin extraction experiments have been carried out with supercritical CO2 to investigate the influences of the pretreatment of the rhizomes on oleoresin. The extractions were conducted at the Department of Chemical Engineering of the Federal University of Pará (Universidade Federal do Pará). Turmeric was dried at 70ºC and 105ºC. Extractions have been carried out at pressures of 200, 250 and 300 bar and a temperature of 45ºC. Results shown the total yield and the content of curcumin present in the oleoresin. Amount of oleoresin extracted from the material dried at 70ºC was larger while most of the curcuminoids remained in the solid material.
Supercritical; extraction; turmeric; drying; oleoresin; curcuminoid
