Integration process for betacyanins extraction from peel and flesh of Hylocereus polyrhizus using liquid biphasic electric flotation system and antioxidant activity evaluation

Abstract Recently, betacyanins have added research applications in food science processing industries, owing to their health promoting functional and attractive visual properties. Additionally, red-purple pitaya ( Hylocereus polyrhizus ) is a rich source of betacyanins. Development of a green and effective bioseparation technology is deemed favourably in the downstream bioprocessing industries. Hence, this study utilised a liquid biphasic electric flotation (LBEF) system for betacyanins extraction from peel and flesh of red-purple pitaya as well as comparison between LBF (liquid biphasic flotation) and LBEF system, color characterisation and antioxidant activity evaluation were conducted. In this study, the optimised LBF system was integrated with electric system. Collectively, the betacyanins extraction using LBEF system showed an optimal betacyanins extraction from the peel and flesh, with the significant highest values of betacyanins concentration in alcohol-rich top phase (C t ) (99.014 ± 0.074% and 96.132 ± 0.154%), separation efficiency (E) (98.383 ± 0.215% and 96.576 ± 0.083%) and partition coefficient (K) (100.814 ± 7.324 and 24.883 ± 1.052) of betacyanins. Moreover, the peel and flesh extract showed different variations of red colors and antioxidant properties. The present study introduces a new, simple and high efficient bioseparation technology (LBEF system) which is definitely worth to study further.