Efficient β-carotene recovery from surfactant-based aqueous solutions: Advancing from experimental to process simulation

• A biocompatible process using ChCl:U:Gly was developed for β-carotene extraction. • Phase diagrams and TLs with surfactants and ChCl:U:Gly were studied at several temperatures. • Nearly 100 % extraction efficiency was achived from Triton X-102-based ATPS at 308.15 K. • The process simulation for β-carotene removal was optimized. β-carotene is a carotenoid present in the human diet with numerous functions in the body. This work suggests a new platform for efficiently recovering this bioactive compound from aqueous solutions. For the first time, a ternary deep eutectic solvent (DES) is proposed to promote phase separation in aqueous solutions of non-ionic surfactants (Triton X-102 and Tween 20). The influence of temperature on the miscibility regions was investigated from 298.15 K to 308.15 K as a preliminary step. The obtained phase diagrams at three temperatures were accurately correlated using four empirical equations. The extraction capacity of these novel combinations was analysed by means of the Tie-Lines ( TL ) and their derived magnitudes: Tie-Line Length ( TLL ) and Slope ( S ). The reliability of the TL s was ascertained through three empirical equations. Analysis of the data showed that more than 99 % of the model carotene could be extracted using ChCl:U:Gly from a Triton X-102 aqueous solution at 308.15 K. Process simulation using SuperPro Designer confirmed that an effective and sustainable process for recovering β-carotene from algal biomass can be designed using a simple approach.