Green technologies for the extraction of bioactive compounds in fruits and vegetables

Abstract

Bioactive compounds are extracted from natural sources and they have beneficial effects on human health. Fruits and vegetables are rich in carotenoids, phenolic compounds, Vitamin C, among others. Extraction processes for these compounds depend on several factors such as the technique that is used, the raw material, and the organic solvent. Conventional techniques generally require large amounts of organic solvents, high energy expenditure, and are time consuming, which has generated interest in new technologies that are referred to as clean or green technologies. These can reduce or eliminate the use of toxic solvents, and thus preserve the natural environment and its resources. The aim of this review is to discuss recent techniques used to extract bioactive compounds from natural sources, in order to reduce the economic and ecological impact of these processes. Tecnologías verdes para la extracción de compuestos bioactivos en frutas y verduras RESUMEN Los compuestos bioactivos son extraídos de fuentes naturales y tienen efectos beneficiosos en la salud humana. Las frutas y verduras son ricas en carotenoides, compuestos fenólicos, vitamina C, así como en otras sustancias. Los procesos para extraer estos compuestos dependen de varios factores: la técnica utilizada, la materia prima y el solvente orgánico, entre otros. Además de ocupar mucho tiempo, las técnicas convencionales generalmente requieren grandes cantidades de solventes orgánicos y elevados gastos energéticos: ello ha generado interés en el uso de tecnologías nuevas, llamadas limpias o verdes. En tanto éstas pueden reducir o eliminar el uso de solventes tóxicos, permiten conservar el medio ambiente y sus recursos. El propósito de la presente revisión es examinar las técnicas empleadas recientemente para extraer compuestos bioactivos de fuentes naturales, con el fin de reducir el impacto económico y ecológico que conllevan estos procesos.

Green and Sustainable Valorization of Bioactive Phenolic Compounds from Pinus By-Products

“…This technology is based on the use of liquid solvents at temperature and pressure values above the atmospheric boiling point and below the critical point values, decreasing the viscosity of the solvent, promoting accelerated dissolution kinetics, and increasing the solutes' solubility. It also increases mass transfer rates and decreases surface tension, facilitating the penetration of solvents into the matrix, changing its structure, and disintegrating it [106,121]. For example, in the case of water as an extraction solvent in PLE (subcritical water extraction), the water is heated over 100 • C increasing pressure above atmospheric conditions.…”

Agro-industrial wastes as sources of bioactive compounds for food and fermentation industries

“…The processing of food from vegetable origin results in production of byproducts that are rich sources of bioactive compounds (SCHIEBER et al, 2001) ( Figure 2). The availability of these compounds in the agroindustry residue will depend on the mode of extraction, type of solvent, and purification (SOQUETTA et al, 2018). A general scheme to obtain extracts from different parts of the plants is shown in figure 3.…”

Dynamic absorption efficiency of paracetamol powder in microwave drying

“…Such restrictions have motivated studies into the next generation of drying technologies that can be applied to the manufacture of biotherapeutic products. Microwave drying technology has been widely used in many applications in the pharmaceutical industry such as drying, synthesis, extraction, and sterilization because of its high efficiency, low environmental impact, and energy efficiency [3,4].…”