Abstract:

With Suaeda salsa as the raw material, the extraction technology of red pigment and the effects of light, heat, pH value, reductant, oxide, sucrose and metal ion on its stability were investigated. The red pigment is insoluble in organic solvents but free in water, and its maximum absorption peak is at the wavelength of 538 nm. Therefore, it was primarily identified as betacyanin. Its optimum extraction conditions were confirmed as follows: using water as extraction solvent, ratio of material to water 1:25, extraction temperature 40 ℃, and time 10 min. This pigment was poor in resistance against light, heat and oxide, may endure reductant to some extent, and could be applicable in pH 4～7. Sucrose and metal ions such as Fe3+, Fe2+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ did not affect the stability of the pigment, but other ions such as Zn2+, Na+, K+ and Al3+ had faintly negative effects on its stability.

Key words: Suaeda salsa, red pigment, extraction technology, stability