Solubility of β-carotene in supercritical carbon dioxide and ethane

Solubilities of synthetic trans-β-carotene in supercritical carbon dioxide and ethane were measured, at temperatures from 35 to 60°C and pressures up to 300 bar, using a single-pass flow apparatus. The compound showed a low solubility in both solvents, but in ethane, its value was about an order of magnitude higher. The solubility measurements were compared with those published by other workers, which used different methods for the determination of the concentration of β-carotene in supercritical fluids. Moreover, the solubility data were correlated using the Peng–Robinson equation of state.