Abstract
This research paper studies the development of a sustainable process for the extraction of antioxidants from oat. Experimentation covered two factorials to evaluate significance among temperature, time, particle size and solvent. Total polyphenolic content (TPC) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) were the response variables. ANOVA was applied to find significance among variables and predict optimum conditions though a regression model. Extractions at different solid/solvent ratios were developed to study solvents’ solubility. Process simulation in Aspen Process Developer was carried out to evaluate energy cost, raw material cost, campaign time, and process mass intensity. Solvent and particle size showed significance as main effects, whereas temperature and time presented significance as interactions. From an industrial and sustainable perspective, ethanol (EtOH) in a 1/20 (w/v) ratio was the best choice since it presented the lowest cost for energy and raw material. It also showed the lowest process mass intensity (PMI), short campaign time, highest g extract/g oat, and a considerable antioxidant capacity.
Highlights
Whole grain cereals such as oat are an important source of polyphenols
Two factorial designs were proposed for evaluating the significance of time, temperature, particle size and solvent (Table 3). 2k factorials are recommended for early stages of experimentation and when many variables are involved in the response [24]
oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) regression coefficients used in the optimization of the response
Summary
Whole grain cereals such as oat are an important source of polyphenols. Polyphenols are of interest because of its high antioxidant capacity and potential health benefits [1,2]. The solvent with the best performance in the laboratory does not necessarily give the most sustainable process at industrial scale. Aspects such as cost, energy consumption, and HSE (Health, Safety, and Environmental) performance play an important role in process development. Solvent recovery and recycling are important aspects to consider for extraction scaling, as well as for the development of a sustainable process [12]. It does not mean that mixtures should not be evaluated For this particular case there is plenty of literature regarding the performance of mixtures, and as it will be seen in the results section single solvents presented better or similar performance compared to extractions with mixtures already reported. The information obtained from this research will give a more holistic view for developing a sustainable process in the future, considering that a sustainable process has to be economically feasible
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