A Pilot-Scale Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction to Valorize Colombian Mango Seed Kernel.

Leidy J Cerón-Martínez,Diego F Tirado,Alfredo Ayala-Aponte,Andrés M Hurtado-Benavides,Liliana Serna-Cock

doi:10.3390/molecules26082279

Abstract

Colombian mango production, which exceeded 261,000 t in 2020, generates about 40% of the whole fruit as solid waste, of which more than 50% are seed kernels (over 52,000 t solid by-product); though none is currently used for commercial purposes. This study reports the results of the supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) extraction of an oil rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs) from revalorized mango seed kernels and the optimization of the process by the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). In pilot-scale scCO2 experiments, pressure (23–37 MPa) and temperature (52–73 °C) were varied, using 4.5 kg of CO2. The highest experimental oil extraction yield was 83 g/kg (37 MPa and 63 °C); while RSM predicted that 84 g/kg would be extracted at 35 MPa and 65 °C. Moreover, by fine-tuning pressure and temperature it was possible to obtain an EFA-rich lipid fraction in linoleic (37 g/kg) and α-linolenic (4 g/kg) acids, along with a high oleic acid content (155 g/kg), by using a relatively low extraction pressure (23 MPa), which makes the process a promising approach for the extraction of oil from mango waste on an industrial scale, based on a circular economy model.

Highlights

The concept of sustainability relies on the circular economy model, which focuses on resource efficiency, waste reduction, recycling, and valorization [1,2]
Pressure and temperature were analyzed as the main operating conditions of the procedure and optimized by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to reach a high oil extraction yield with a fatty acid profile rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs)
This work explored the possibility of taking advantage of mango seed kernels as a byproduct of the Colombian agroindustrial sector, to obtain a lipid fraction rich in both linoleic and α-linolenic acids, along with oleic acid

Summary

Introduction

The concept of sustainability relies on the circular economy model, which focuses on resource efficiency, waste reduction, recycling, and valorization [1,2]. Food waste is a key element of the circular economy concept, and the valorization of these wastes constitutes a promising alternative to turn waste into valuable bio-based products [2,3]. In this regard, the extraction of high-value functional compounds offers one of the many valorization strategies for a sustainable and efficient waste management approach, with possible benefits for the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries [2]. 99% of mango production takes place in developing countries, with Latin America contributing 26% of production, led by Peru, Brazil, and Colombia [6,7]

Methods

Results

Conclusion