Feasibility Analysis on the Extraction of Lycopene from Tomato Peel through Organic Synthesis

Project Information

LycoSOL

Grant agreement ID: 870324

DOI

10.3030/870324

Project closed

EC signature date 17 July 2019

Start date 1 August 2019

End date 31 January 2020

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

BIOCAPSOL KIMYA ANONIM SIRKETI
Türkiye

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - LycoSOL (Feasibility Analysis on the Extraction of Lycopene from Tomato Peel through Organic Synthesis)

Reporting period: 2019-08-01 to 2020-01-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Artificial food colouring makes the foods more appealing and desirable, a tactic the food industry has been capitalising on for decades. One of the most used artificial food colouring is Carmine or E120 (Used in Nestle Nesquik, Rainbow Mentos, etc.) a pigment of a bright-red colour obtained from the aluminium salt of carminic acid, which is produced by some scale insects, such as the cochineal scale and the Polish cochineal, and is used as a general term for a particularly deep-red colour of the same name. While the safety of these dyes has been called into question, consumer advocacy groups and recent scientific research have linked these food dyes to a number of potential health problems, most notably, certain types of cancer in animals and attention-deficit disorder and hyperactivity in children. The link between artificial colours and behavioral problems is a concern, especially for parents of children diagnosed with ADHD.

Lycopene from tomato, in addition to significant health benefits, is a good example to replace the colorant carmine within the yellow to red colour scale with. Carmine is synthesized from cochineal bug’s shells and marketed as an organic colorant with no nutritional value. It has a minimum effect on taste and provides vibrant shades and long-lasting stable colour to the product satisfying the producers. Yet, the usage of carmine in food products is challenged by increasing resistance from the public due to the disgust from the consumption of insects; objections from vegetarians; and inapplicability of kosher/halal certifications added to the suspected health concerns such as allergies and asthma , but most importantly the recently observed correlation to the Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder ADHD in children.

BioCapSOL aims to contribute to the Food Law general principles of granting access to safe and wholesome food of the highest standards and protection of customers’ health avoiding the use of cancerogenic solvents. In addition, recovering food losses and waste produced by farms and industries throughout the value-chain is in line with the Circular Economy strategy and the goals of the Food Safety Policy for preventing food waste and strengthening the sustainability of the food system.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The concept has been formulated has result of the intense research led by the team of BioCapSOL; the basic technological components have been integrated into a prototyped process and proven to work together at a laboratory level; the pilot scale manufacturing has been tested and verified to be reproducible in the facilities of BioCapSOL at the Teknopark Istanbul; high volume manufacturability trials have been started on the individual industrial scale equipment at the BioCapSOL facility next to the provider of tomato by-products in Kemalpasa Bursa, Turkey; product sampling has been started with a couple of potential customers including Naturex France, Pinar Sut (Dairy Products), Tunckaya (meat producer), Zeytursan (major pickle and sauce producer) and Flormar (cosmetics supplier). The developments have brought the innovation to a readiness level where the pilot scale production can be scaled-up and a first high-volume manufacturing line at factory level at Tepecik factory of Merko.

We’ve analyzed the possibility of extending the existing patent protection to protect the project’s further outcomes and results but due to the complexity of this process, the equipment needed (Initial investments), and the size of the market, we’ve decided that for now there is no need to apply for more patents for the targeted countries during the commercialization strategy.

We've also analyzed potential market expansions for LycoSOL. Two of the interesting and potential markets for LycoSOL can be the textile market (industrial dyeing) and the cosmetics industry due to the revealing power of the natural red pigment of Lycopene.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

LycoSOL represents different benefits, (Health benefits, encapsulation protection from UV light and decomposition, cost savings and waste reduction):

1) Extraction of lycopene or other carotenoids requires the use solvent combinations such as hexane, ethanol, acetone, etc. which have adverse effects on human health. Process based on extraction of a naturally present component, lycopene, with fully benign chemistries.
2) Lycopene extract is prone to degradation when exposed to heat or UV light for extended periods of time. This makes lycopene to have a shorter shelf life compared to carmine. A formulation that can keep the lycopene protected against UV light and carotenoids from decomposition, hence allowing for effectively store the extract and long-term usage.
3) With the current existing methods, protected by patents and lycopene prone to decomposition when exposed to UV light, costs are extremely high. Products used for the extraction are expressly produced, contributing to increase the costs of the process. LycoSOL will enable to cut down costs thanks to 1) use of tomato peel from waste-products; 2) use of more effective bioactive reagents that increase the lycopene extraction; 3) effective storage ability that reduces costs.

LycoSOL allows food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical manufacturers to use a natural component with no toxic residues to colour end products. The method ensures their competitiveness thanks to a low-cost process and healthier final output able to compete with carmine and meet end users’ needs and kosher/halal requirements even at the pharmaceutical grades. LycoSOL is a resource-efficient, 100% natural and eco-innovative method for production of natural coloring based on bio- refinery, whose concept stands for creating added value from waste generated along the value-chain.

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