Bioactive Compounds Extraction Using a Hybrid Ultrasound and High-Pressure Technology for Sustainable Farming Systems

Abstract

In the context of agricultural soil degradation caused by the extensive use of chemical amendments, ecological alternatives with minimal detrimental impact on ecosystems are gaining popularity. Recent advancements in processing technologies have improved the quality and extraction efficiency of bioactive compounds, particularly when multiple conventional or innovative techniques are being used to potentially overcome the most common limitations. This paper proposes the development and testing of a hybrid technology design that employs two extraction techniques, namely ultrasound and high pressure, that can be used either separately or in tandem. An initial assessment of the prototype potential for isolating the desired compounds was made, by testing three various working regimens for the processing of a mixture of onion, pea, and soybean. By incorporating the bioactive compounds produced during the experimental phase in the seedling transplantation holes, we were able to test the potential of stimulating the development rate of vegetables and reducing the attack of pests. The extracts obtained using the hybrid technology showed positive results when used to reduce pest attacks (decreasing average attack frequency by 7%), however had negative effects when used to promote biostimulation, when acted as an inhibitor. The hybrid extraction approach improved the mass transfer into solvent by 14% when compared to high-pressure processing and by 7% when compared to sonication.

Design of Experiments for Optimizing Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Plant-Based Sources

“…Additionally, the UAE method is versatile and can be employed with polar and non-polar solvents at different temperatures to enhance the yield of phytochemicals while reducing extraction time [4,16]. Furthermore, the ultrasound can be simultaneously applied with other extraction methods to improve the recovery efficiency of BC from plant-based materials, including heat [42], vacuum pressure [43], high pressure [44], enzyme [45], pulsed electric field [46], pressurized liquids [47], and microwave [48] among others. UAE has found successful application in a wide range of plant-based sources for recovering BC, including by-products from oranges, limes, and tangerines [49,50], Ficaria kochii flowers [51], Morus alba leaves [52], peaches and pumpkins [53], green tea leaves [54], Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces [55], and banana peel [56], among others [57][58][59].…”

Evaluation of an Optical Sorter Effectiveness in Separating Maize Seeds Intended for Sowing

“…This fact is due to the need to perpetuate and use the biological value of a species (to obtain high production, special nutritional properties, and higher resistance to stress factors and diseases), and to create optimal conditions for sowing and sprouting (when the seeds are uniform, their phytosanitary status and germination are good, the seeders have a safer and more precise operation, the sprouting is uniform, the plants start growing simultaneously, and the differences in the level of development are small). In addition, the time needed for harvesting the fields is longer, which can reduce natural and artificial losses [55][56][57][58][59][60].…”