Chapter 14 - Integrated systems for multiphase development

Abstract

Biomolecules such as polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and total phenolic contents are very crucial for their applications. The conventional extraction methods such as solvent extraction, distillation, and maceration have limitations such as lower extraction yield, lower product quality, long extraction time, large solvent consumption, energy intensive and nonenvironmental friendly. The mass transfer process and molecular affinity between solvent and solute are the major issues in the extraction process. However, the limitations of conventional methods can be overcome by using new integration methods such as ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, and enzyme-assisted extraction. The mechanisms of ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, and enzyme-assisted extraction are acoustic cavitation, ionic conduction and dipole rotation, and enzymatic reaction with raw material, respectively. The mechanisms and factors affecting the extraction processes are studied and investigated in order to maximize the extraction efficiency, extraction yields, and quality of extracts. Besides, current applications of the methods are also reported in this chapter with benefits and drawbacks for each technique. In some cases, these extraction processes are used as pretreatment to improve the extraction process later. Hence, current applications and technologies act as the foundations or fundamentals for finding more sophisticated extraction methods in the future.