Unlocking the potential of carrot pomace: Enzymatic and impact-disintegrator-activator processing for elevated beta-carotene concentration in carrot powder

Backgrounds: Carrot pomace is a by-product of the juice industry, which quickly spoils due to its high moisture content and is usually considered waste. However, it is a valuable product containing a significant amount of bioactive compounds, particularly carotenoids.Context and purpose of this study:In this study, we aimed to develop a technology for obtaining carrot powder from carrot pomace with an increased availability of beta-carotene. The unique aspect of the technology involved the use of enzymatic and impact-disintegration-activation processing (IDAP) of the raw material to enhance the release of beta-carotene from plant cells.Objective of this study:To achieve the goal, we have set objectives to compare various dosages of enzyme preparation and to evaluate devices for grinding carrots that can be used to make powder. At all stages, it was necessary to measure the amount of beta-carotene in the samples.Results: It has been found that the yield of carotenoids from carrot pomace is 185% higher compared to whole carrots. Moreover, the application of enzymatic and impact-disintegration-activation processing significantly increases the carotenoid yield in the powder by 17 times compared to carrots (200% in terms of dry matter). This remarkable result was achieved through the described processing method and the selection of the enzyme preparation. Additionally, the mechanoactivation obtained by using the Desi-15 disintegrator played a crucial role. It was also observed that the use of impact-disintegration-activation processing for further grinding of dried carrots can increase the beta-carotene yield by 8 times. Conclusions: The carrot pomace was processed, resulting in a fine-dispersed carrot powder that shows promising applications in the food or agricultural industries.Keywords: Carrot pomace, beta-carotene, impact-disintegrator-activator processing (IDAP), enzymatic processing, pectolytic enzyme preparations