Optimization of Ionic Liquid Microwave-Assisted Extraction Protocol of Lycopene from Tomato

Objective To refine the lycopene extraction from tomato powder with ionic liquid-microwave assistance, seeking a more efficient and cost-effective process that optimizes resource usage, lowers extraction costs, and boosts the economic value of lycopene. Methods The study investigated the effects of various factors on the extraction yield of lycopene. The researchers screened ionic liquids and constructed a BP (Back Propagation) neural network model to optimize the experimental data. This model was further refined using a genetic algorithm-neural network approach to determine the optimal extraction process parameters. Results After conducting the optimization process and subsequent verification experiments, the study identified the optimal conditions for the ionic liquid-microwave-assisted extraction of lycopene from tomato powder. These conditions were found to be a microwave power of 800 w, an extraction time of 150 s, an ionic liquid concentration of 0.17 mol/L, and a liquid-to-material ratio of 15:1 (mL/g). Under these conditions, the lycopene content achieved was 0.177 mg/g, which corresponded to the highest extraction efficiency. Conclusions The study optimized lycopene extraction with ionic liquid-microwave assistance, improving efficiency, reducing waste, and lowering costs to enhance its economic value from tomatoes.