Abstract
To establish the optimum conditions for the extraction of anthocyanin pigment from purple-fleshed sweet potato, a suitable extraction solvent with the optimum citric acid concentration for acidification of the solvent, and the optimum extraction time and temperature were determined. Twenty percent ethanol solution acidified with citric acid was found to be a good solvent for the extraction of the pigment from purple-fleshed sweet potato. About 10 hour extraction at room temperature was appropriate for the extraction. pH of the extract was below 3 when more than 0.7% citric acid was added. The higher the concentration of citric acid added was, the higher the total optical density (TOD) of the extract was. However, the increase in TOD of the extract was insignificant when more than 1% of citric acid was added. Therefore, addition of 1% citric acid was determined for acidification of the extracting solvent. Though the initial rate of the pigment extraction increased as the extracting temperature increased, extraction at higher temperatures of 60 or 8$0^{\circ}C$ for an extended time caused a decrease in the extraction yield due to degradation of the pigment. The optimum extraction temperature for the anthocyanin pigment from purple-fleshed sweet potato with the solvent used was determined as 4$0^{\circ}C$.