Valued Bioproducts from Waste <em>Opuntia ficus-indica</em> Peel via Microwave-Assisted Hydrodiffusion and Hydrodistillation

Abstract

The integral extraction via microwave-assisted hydrodiffusion and hydrodistillation of water-soluble bioproducts contained in the peel of Opuntia ficus-indica white and red cultivars harvested in Sicily, affords red and stable aqueous extracts mostly containing valued betanin, pectin and biophenols. Potentially useful as nutraceutical products, these aqueous extracts are a source of valued ingredients in high demand for a number of important food, cosmetic, beverage and nutraceutical applications.

Toward unfolding bioeconomy of nopal (Opuntia spp.)

“…50 In 2017, scholars in Italy and Portugal reported the successful extraction of pectin and natural red pigment from the peel of white and red OFI fruits harvested in Sicily, Italy, via mild microwave-assisted hydrodistillation and microwave-assisted hydrodiffusion ( Figure 7). 51 The new process is carried out in water only, without the aid of any chemical, and directly affords the polysaccharides and the natural dyes in solution. would provide significant advantages.…”

Solar air drying for innovative Opuntia ficus-indica cladode dehydration

“…Adding to recent findings concerning Sicily's Opuntia' bioeconomy, including seed oil of unique composition [31] and high amounts of valued betanin dye contained in the peel of white and red OFI fruits [32], we have discovered that using solar air heating and ventilation to dehydrate the fresh cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica produces green dehydrated cladodes and green Nopal powder.…”

The Limonene Biorefinery: From Extractive Technologies to Its Catalytic Upgrading into p-Cymene

“…The microwave assisted extraction (MAE) is a green and versatile extraction technology usable starting from several raw materials and providing both faster extraction and lesser solvent consumption [60]. Recently, MAE has been largely used also for the extraction of pectin and betanin from the peel of red and green Opuntia ficus-indica fruits with high efficiency [61]. MAE shows many advantages, such as a less solvent volume, faster extraction, mass transfer intensification and protection of thermo-labile compounds from high temperatures.…”