The design of green and sustainable extraction methods of natural products is currently a hot research topic in the multidisciplinary area of applied chemistry, biology and technology. Herein we aimed to introduce the six principles of green-extraction, describing a multifaceted strategy to apply this concept at research and industrial level. The mainstay of this working protocol are new and innovative technologies, process intensification, agro-solvents and energy saving. The concept, principles and examples of green extraction here discussed, offer an updated glimpse of the huge technological effort that is being made and the diverse applications that are being developed.

Ultrasound, an efficient and virtually innocuous means of activation in synthetic chemistry, has been employed for decades with varied success. Not only can this high-energy input enhance mechanical effects in heterogeneous processes, but it is also known to induce new reactivities leading to the formation of unexpected chemical species. What makes sonochemistry unique is the remarkable phenomenon of cavitation, currently the subject of intense research which has already yielded thought-provoking results. This critical review is aimed at discussing the present status of cavitational chemistry and some of the underlying phenomena, and to highlight some recent applications and trends in organic sonochemistry, especially in combination with other sustainable technologies. (151 references.).

Gd(III) chelates are often used as reporting probes in magnetic resonance imaging applications. Their use relies on the assumption that their high stability ensures against the release of free ligand and free Gd(3+) ions, which are both highly toxic to living systems. The presence of free Gd(3+) ions may have a profound effect on the contrast in the MR image as they may form highly hydrated, macromolecular complexes endowed with very high relaxivity thus providing erroneous information on the extent of the contrast effect induced by the given reporting probe. Although the stability of a given complex may be high enough, the complexation step could not have been completed. Therefore any Gd complex preparation has to be carefully checked for the content of free ligand and free metal ions. Herein the currently used procedures that allow an assessment of the amounts of free metal ions and free ligand in a solution of a given Gd complex are described in detail.

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This review presents innovative extraction techniques and their role in promoting sustainable ingredients for the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.