Studies on the Color of Tomato

Part V. Thermal degradation of lycopene and β-carotene

Abstract

Lycopene and β-carotene in the solvents as dioxan, n-heptane and aq. Tween-20 were heated in the thermal-death-time tubes at 100, 113, and 130°C to investigate the heat stability by determining the initial velocity of decomposition. The initial decomposition followed the simple equation of reation. β-carotene was more stable than lycopene in each solvent. The velocity of decomposition of these carotenoides was the highest in dioxan followed by Tween-20 and n-heptane in this order.