The aim of the present study is to optimize the ultrasonic-assisted solvent extraction (UASE) variables and to identify the phytochemical compounds present in the prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) peel extract and the results are compared with the extract obtained using soxhlet extraction (SE) techniques. Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used to optimize the UASE variables and the maximum TPC (5.95 mg GAE/g dW) and TFC (9.79 mg RUE/g dW) was obtained at 17 min of time, 40 C bath temperature and 1:24 g/mL solid-solvent ratio. The SEM analysis further shows that ultrasonic cavitation caused morphological changes, which accelerates the rate of extraction. The phytochemical analysis of UASE and soxhlet extracts revealed that the components which possess pharmacological activity are about 68.08% in UASE, whereas 61.72% in SE. In addition, components like phytol, azulene, andrographolide, serverogenin acetate, and stigmasterol, possess pharmacological properties that are notably present in UASE and are absent in SE.

Article Highlights• Response surface methodology was applied for optimization of solvent extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction • UAE is an effective method to obtain maximum yield with minimum time and solvent consumption • GC-MS analysis was carried out to identify the bioactive compounds present in the extract obtained from various extraction techniques AbstractIn the present work, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was employed to extract the phenolic compounds from wood apple pulp. A Box-Behnken design was used to optimize the process variables. The results revealed that UAE have significantly higher TPC (17.41±0.13 mg GAE/g dW) and TFC (6.73±0.19 mg RE/g dW) in comparison with solvent extraction that gave noticeably lower TPC (12.01±0.17 mg GAE/g dW) and TFC = 4.47±0.09 mg RE/g dW). Optimally obtained extracts of wood apple pulp were subjected to phytochemical screening and it was found that bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane, 2-(1-buten-3-yl)-serverogenin acetate, 4H-pyran-4-one, 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-, L-(+)--ascorbic acid 2,6-dihexadecanoate, cis-vaccenic acid, thiopene, 2-propyl--phenol, 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) and octanoic acid were present only in UAE extracts. Since the bioactive component presence is remarkably higher in UAE compared to other techniques, UAE seems to be a better method for the extraction of phenolic compounds from wood apple pulp.

The objective of this work is to extract phenolic compounds from Punica granatum L. peel and to optimize the process variables. In this study, extraction was carried out using soxhlet, solvent and ultrasound-assisted extraction. Soxhlet extraction of phenolic compounds were reported as 87.31 mg GAE/g dW TPC, 70.30 mg RUE/g dW TFC and 98.68 mg CE/g dW TAC. Solvent extraction found 56.99 mg GAE/g dW, 42.93 mg RUE/g dW and 64.13 mg CE/g dW, while for ultrasonic-assisted extraction it was 77.23 mg GAE/g dW, 62.55 mg RUE/g dW and 91.40 mg CE/g dW of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and total amount of anthocyanin content, respectively. The presence of phytochemicals was identified using GC-MS and it was found that the extracts contained high amount of trans-13-Octadecenoic acid which is a cancer preventive compound. Scanning electron microscope analysis was used to study the effect of ultrasound on the surface of the sample and understand the morphological changes.

Municipal solid waste generation is exponentially increasing every year. Managing these solid wastes is highly complicated due to the generation of a plethora of waste. Since collecting and disposing of wastes in dumping sites cause severe environmental impacts, an alternative option is the need of the hour. Thus the technique used must be efficient and less in cost for agricultural applications. Composting is one such process where the decomposition and recycling of organic material into a humus.rich soil take place naturally known as compost. Fruit waste is rich in moisture content, and thus possesses a unique property as a raw compost agent. The present study focuses on composting of fruit wastes for reducing the amount of solid waste being collected and dumped. If composting of fruit waste is carried out in backyards, then the amount of solid waste entering the dumping sites can be reduced substantially.

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