Applications of Nonconventional Green Extraction Technologies in Process Industries: Challenges, Limitations and Perspectives

Gertrude Fomo, Tafirenyika Nyamayaro Madzimbamuto and Tunde Victor Ojumu
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Gertrude Fomo: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville Campus, Bellville 7553, South Africa
Tafirenyika Nyamayaro Madzimbamuto: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville Campus, Bellville 7553, South Africa
Tunde Victor Ojumu: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville Campus, Bellville 7553, South Africa

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 13, 1-22

Abstract: This study reviewed five different nonconventional technologies which are aligned with green concepts of product recovery from raw materials on industrial scale, with minimal energy consumption and chemical use. Namely, this study reviewed supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasound extraction (UAE) and pulsed electric fields extraction (PEFE). This paper provides an overview of relevant innovative work done in process industries on different plant matrices for functional value-added compounds and byproduct production. A comparison of the five extraction methods showed the supercritical CO 2 (SC-CO 2 ) process to be more reliable despite some limitations and challenges in terms of extraction yield and solubility of some bioactive compounds when applied in processing industries. However, these challenges can be solved by using ionic liquids as a trainer or cosolvent to supercritical CO 2 during the extraction process. The choice of ionic liquid over organic solvents used to enhance extraction yield and solubility is based on properties such as hydrophobicity, polarity and selectivity in addition to a safe environment.

Keywords: green extraction technology; value-added compounds; process industries; ionic liquids (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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