ExTech 2023, Celebrating 25 Years of Innovation in Extraction Technologies

Recent progress in sample extraction: A report on the ExTech 2007 Symposium at Ålesund, Norway, 3–6 June 2007

Bioactivities and green advanced extraction technologies of ginger oleoresin extracts: A review

Plant extracts and absolutes have high application value in several industries such as medicine, food, and fragrance. Especially in the field of fragrance, while there is expensive, they are prized by perfumers and provide a rich and lasting aroma. Owing to advancements in extraction technology, their yields have increased and their ingredients have become richer. However, no extraction technology is universal and each extraction technology has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, this review systematically characterizes the extraction technologies for plant extracts and absolutes, including traditional extraction technologies, such as maceration, percolation, reflux, and Soxhlet extraction, and green extraction technologies, such as microwave-assisted, ultrasonic-assisted, pressurized liquid, and supercritical fluid extractions. These extraction technologies are analyzed and compared in terms of their principles, advantages and disadvantages, improvement solutions, and applications. In addition, this review summarizes and compares new green extraction solvents and discusses the practical applications of these advanced extraction methods and solvents from different perspectives.

Recent advances in valorization of Chaenomeles fruit: A review of botanical profile, phytochemistry, advanced extraction technologies and bioactivities

Overview of Canada's energy storage related research activities: A perspective

Overview/BackgroundThe European Union faces significant challenges in securing critical raw materials (CRM) while balancing environmental protection, public acceptance, and technological innovation. This research examines how innovative "invisible mining" approaches, enabled by advances in robotics and miniaturisation, could help resolve conflicts between mineral extraction needs and environmental preservation goals, particularly in the context of the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). This paper addresses the growing tension between increased raw material demand for green technologies and the EU's stringent environmental protection mandates. MethodsWe analysed the intersection of technological innovation, policy frameworks, and social acceptance through a comprehensive review of EU-funded research projects in mining automation and robotics. We evaluated six major research initiatives from 2011-2026, examining their technological developments and potential applications. The analysis incorporates findings from case studies of mining operations in environmentally sensitive areas and assesses the viability of emerging business models in the mining sector. Special attention was given to projects developing autonomous robotic systems for underground operations and advanced sensing technologies for precise mineral extraction. ResultsThe research identifies four key transformative elements for successful implementation of invisible mining: (1) technological advances in robotics and miniaturisation enabling precise, low-impact extraction through smaller diameter galleries and reduced waste rock production; (2) comprehensive and integrated resource recovery principles maximising resource efficiency while minimising environmental disturbance; (3) materials-as-a-service business models creating circular resource loops and transforming mining companies from mere extractors to long-term material stewards; and (4) development of new workforce competencies in advanced cognitive domains such as robotics, data science, and environmental management. The analysis reveals that more than 80% of CRM deposits in Europe are located near or within environmentally protected areas, highlighting the urgent need for innovative extraction approaches. Additionally, the study demonstrates how autonomous mining systems can operate in narrow drifts without human presence, eliminating the need for extensive ventilation and drainage systems. ConclusionsThe findings demonstrate that invisible mining, characterised by minimal surface disturbance and environmental impact, represents a viable solution to the EU's raw materials challenges. This approach, combined with new business models and advanced technologies, could significantly increase public acceptance of mining activities while meeting the EU's resource needs. Success requires a fundamental transformation of the mining sector, encompassing technological innovation, business model evolution, and workforce development. The research suggests that invisible mining could enable the coexistence of resource extraction and environmental protection, particularly in sensitive areas, while supporting the EU's transition to a green economy. The study emphasises that this transformation demands sustained investment in robotics research, development of circular economy practices, and reimagining of traditional mining business models to create a more sustainable and socially acceptable mining industry.

Getting to low-cost algal biofuels: A monograph on conventional and cutting-edge harvesting and extraction technologies

This comprehensive review presents a holistic examination of oil shale as a significant energy resource, focusing on its global reserves, extraction technologies, chemical characteristics, economic considerations, and environmental implications. Oil shale, boasting reserves equivalent to approximately 6 trillion barrels of shale oil worldwide, holds substantial potential to augment the global energy supply. Key extraction methods analyzed include surface mining, modified in situ, and true in situ conversion processes, each exhibiting distinct operational parameters and efficiencies. The review further delves into the chemical aspects of oil shale retorting and pyrolysis, highlighting the critical role of variables such as retorting temperature, residence time, particle size, and heating rate in determining the yield and composition of shale oil and byproducts. Economic analyses reveal that capital and operating costs, which vary according to the specific extraction and processing technologies implemented, are crucial in appraising the economic feasibility of oil shale projects. Lastly, the review acknowledges the potential environmental hazards linked with oil shale development, such as groundwater contamination and harmful emissions. It emphasizes the importance of rigorous monitoring programs, environmental impact assessments, sustainable technologies, and innovative strategies like co-combustion and comprehensive utilization systems in mitigating such impacts. The review underlines the need for a balanced approach that harmonizes technological advancement, economic viability, and environmental sustainability in oil shale exploitation.

Plants produce pectin as a versatile biopolymer stemming from their cell walls where it shows importance in food together with pharmaceuticals and cosmetics because of its gel-forming ability and thickening and stabilizing traits. The extraction techniques for pectin traditionally demand high amounts of power alongside hazardous solvents while needing extended processing durations. The development of emerging green extraction technologies (ET) provides sustainable and efficient extraction methodologies. This analysis conducts a systematic assessment of different ETs for pectin extraction by examining UAE alongside MAE and includes evaluation of supercritical CO2, HPP, and PEF extraction methods. These methods present advantages such as higher extraction performance with lowered energy usage as well as better pectin rheological properties that enhance both gel strength and viscosity. ETs effectively maintain or magnify functional properties in pectin which increases its potential for high-end uses in food items and supplements and cosmetics. These technologies provide an environmentally beneficial method through their reduced reliance on solvents and reduced creation of waste products. Research alongside technological progress hopes to solve existing hurdles associated with equipment costs and scalability because these hurdles currently prevent widespread adoption of these methods, but the solutions will enable industrial-scale use. There exists an opportunity through green extraction technologies to create a sustainable future for industrial pectin production.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) prepared by molecular imprinting technology (MIT) are polymers with specific recognition sites matching the shape, size and functional groups of template molecules, which can selectively identify and enrich target analytes (template molecules), and have been widely used in sample pretreatment, chemical/biological sensing and other fields. However, in the processes of preparation and applications of MIPs, there are still some problems, such as difficult elution of template molecules, fewer effective recognition sites, low binding capacity, low mass transfer rate and poor recognition in aqueous media. As a multidisciplinary technology, MIT has developed rapidly by borrowing and integrating related advanced technologies/strategies of other fields. Consequently, a variety of new imprinting technologies and strategies have continuously emerged, which not only effectively solve the abovementioned problems but also push forwards the development of novel MIPs and widen their applications. In this paper, orienting the applications of MIPs in sample pretreatment, sensors and stimuli responses, some advanced preparation technologies and strategies for MIPs materials are highlighted, including ingenious imprinting technologies (surface imprinting, nanoimprinting; controlled/living polymerization, solid-phase synthesis, etc.), special imprinting strategies (multi-template/monomer imprinting, dummy imprinting, boronate affinity imprinting, etc.), and stimuli-responsive imprinting (magnetic, temperature, pH responsive, etc.). Fundamental features of the advanced imprinting technologies/strategies and their utilizations for MIPs preparations along with representative applications are described in details, involving important issues and research challenges. Firstly, a comprehensive overview of main imprinting technologies and strategies for MIPs preparation in sample pretreatment application is provided. In this regard, MIPs are used as selective adsorbents of various extraction technologies such as solid-phase extraction (SPE), dispersive SPE and magnetic SPE. Aiming at high selectivity and high adsorption capacity, the MIPs should have ideal morphology, uniform size and excellent surface properties. Besides conventional preparative methods, it is required to introduce new imprinting technologies and strategies, mainly including the ingenious imprinting technologies of surface imprinting, nanoimprinting, controlled/living free radical polymerization (CLRP), click chemistry, hollow porous polymer synthesis technology and solid-phase synthesis, and the special imprinting strategies of multi-template/monomer imprinting, dummy/segment imprinting, magnetic material and boronate affinity imprinting. Surface imprinting and nanoimprinting technologies are usually adopted by coupling with the abovementioned imprinting technologies and strategies. Secondly, advanced imprinting technologies and strategies for the construction of MIPs-based sensors are summarized. For the sensors, the MIPs as recognition elements can specifically bind target analytes and as transduction elements can generate output signals for detection. Typically, the output detection signals can be classified into three types, electrochemical, optical and piezoelectric types according to the transduction mechanism; molecular imprinting based electrochemistry, fluorescence and surface enhanced Raman scattering sensors are the research hotspots. For sensing applications, it is necessary to consider the main parameters such as response time, linear dynamic range, sensitivity, selectivity and reproducibility. Therefore, the MIPs should have excellent interface properties by employing appropriate preparative technologies and strategies. Nanoimprinting, surface imprinting and composite material imprinting strategy have become the preferences. Herein, constructions of molecular imprinting fluorescence sensors are emphatically introduced, especially ratiometric fluorescence ones. Thirdly, the imprinting technologies and strategies orienting stimuli-responsive application are briefly introduced, for preparing stimuli-responsive MIPs (SR-MIPs) with specific recognition ability toward targeted molecules under stimuli-regulation and thereby achieving intelligent control. SR-MIPs are able to sensitively respond to specific external physicochemical/biological stimuli with a considerable and reversible change in their properties, such as molecular chain structure, solubility, swelling or dissociation behavior, resulting in regular changes of imprinting properties. The most reported magnetic, temperature, photonic and pH sensitive SR-MIPs and their dual or multi stimuli responsive SR-MIPs are reviewed. The rapid development of smart ecofriendly SR-MIPs and their stimuli-responsive application will accelerate the drug delivery application and assist the widely carried out sample pretreatment and sensors applications. Lastly, future perspectives of MIT and MIPs are proposed. In order to solve the core issues of selectivity, mass transfer rate and adsorption capacity of MIPs, it is imperative to rationally combine various imprinting technologies and strategies. The ingenious fusion of MIT and various advanced technologies should be continuously strengthened to promote the preparation of MIPs materials.

Recent Advances in Synthesis and Characterization of Adhesives

Background: The design of green and sustainable extraction methods of natural products is currently a prime topic in the multidisciplinary area of applied chemistry, biology, and technology, with the growing consumer demand for greener alternatives that do not involve any chemicals and industry concerns of sustainable, nontoxic extraction routes, the application of novel extraction technologies in the drug industry have been widely studied. Hydrotrope has fewer toxic effects, is economically friendly, and is independent of pH. These compounds can enhance the bioavailability, solubility, dissolution, extraction yield, and purity of extracted phytoconstituents. Conclusion: The recent review illustrates the extensive references to the novel extraction of Phyto active compounds through hydrotrope and depicts the summary of updated extraction technologies. The technique is recent, simple, less expensive, and environmentally advantageous. Updated advanced extraction methods like ultrasound-assisted hydrotropic extraction (UAHE), microwave-assisted hydrotropic extraction (MAHE), and ultrasonic microwave-assisted hydrotropic extraction (UMAHE) have been considered a clean, green, and efficient alternatives to conventional extraction technologies. The active phytoconstituents extraction using hydrotrope with advanced extraction technologies has claimed to enhance the extraction yield up to 99% compared with the extraction involving organic solvent of such bioactive. Consequently, when carried out at a reduced temperature, hydrotropic extraction provided a higher extraction yield in a lesser time and maintained the purity of phytoconstituents.

Bioactive compounds in palm oil: A comprehensive review of recent advances in physicochemical characteristics, health-promoting properties and technologies for extraction, concentration, fractionation, encapsulation and functional food applications

Centella asiatica (C. asiatica) has attracted significant scientific interest due to its extensive medicinal properties and long-established use in traditional medicine. This review synthesizes recent advances in the technological exploitation of C. asiatica, covering the extraction of bioactive constituents to product development. Modern extraction techniques such as supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) have substantially improved the yield, selectivity, and preservation of key phytochemicals, particularly triterpenoids, saponins, and flavonoids. These compounds are now routinely characterized using advanced analytical platforms, ensuring product quality, consistency, and standardization. Moreover, the use of innovative formulation technologies and advanced delivery systems has facilitated the development of C. asiatica-based products tailored for various therapeutic areas, including pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and cosmeceuticals targeting neuroprotection, wound healing, skin aging, and stress modulation. Alongside these developments, stringent quality control protocols, toxicological evaluations, and adherence to evolving regulatory standards enhance the safety and efficacy of C. asiatica-derived interventions. This review highlights the integration of traditional knowledge with modern science across the domains of extraction, analysis, formulation, and regulation. It serves as a comprehensive resource for researchers, formulators, and regulatory stakeholders aiming to develop high-quality, evidence-based C. asiatica products with improved bioavailability and therapeutic value.

This year has seen an unprecedented worldwide pandemic that has been brought on by the rise of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which results in COVID-19 (coronavirus 2019) infections. COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of our lives and has required the world to rapidly mobilize to address all aspects of diagnosis and treatment of this disease. COVID-19 has brought to light the challenges of managing a completely novel infectious disease with existing diagnostics and therapeutics that were insufficient to stem the spread of COVID-19. Thus, the resources allotted toward research and development and the global cooperation of governments, scientists, and clinicians to address COVID-19 required a pace of innovation in healthcare that has never before been observed in order to address this new disease. As a result of this effort, innovations in technology to better understand, detect, and treat COVID-19 continue to be reported every day. Here at SLAS Technology, we felt it was important to highlight these advances in technology that have been made to better address all aspects of COVID-19 detection and treatment. We present here a special issue that reports how technology has been used to address COVID-19. The spread of COVID-19 across the world has shown that any hope for effective control of COVID-19 infection in the community requires the development of rapid and accurate methods for detecting COVID-19 infections. Applying existing and emerging viral detection technologies toward better COVID-19 diagnostics has resulted in incredible advances in pathogen detection innovations. Miniaturization assays that allowed for the accurate analysis and detection of SARS-CoV-2 viral nucleic acid detection or host antibody response to COVID-19 have proven to be critical.1Zhu N. Wong P.K. Advances in Viral Diagnostic Technologies for Combating COVID-19 and Future Pandemics.SLAS Technol. 2020; 25: 513-521Google Scholar, 2Tan A.S. Nerurkar S.N. Tan W.C.C. et al.The Virological, Immunological, and Imaging Approaches for COVID-19 Diagnosis and Research.SLAS Technol. 2020; 25: 522-544Google Scholar, 3Karp D.G. Cuda D. Tandel D. et al.Sensitive and Specific Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Using a High-Throughput, Fully Automated Liquid-Handling Robotic System.SLAS Technol. 2020; 25: 545-552Google Scholar While diagnostics initially required clinical laboratory tests, these technological advances have proven critical for field testing in the community or in less well-equipped remote diagnostic testing sites. In addition to advances in detecting COVID-19 infections, leveraging technology to better understand COVID-19 disease progression and immune response is critical to developing better therapies to combat this pandemic. As a result, the molecular mechanisms of COVID-19 infection, as well as an understanding of the critical immune responses and overall biological responses to COVID-19, have been uncovered in an amazingly short amount of time. Much of this has been a result of the use of critical technologies such as single-cell analysis technologies and advances in mass cytometry.2Tan A.S. Nerurkar S.N. Tan W.C.C. et al.The Virological, Immunological, and Imaging Approaches for COVID-19 Diagnosis and Research.SLAS Technol. 2020; 25: 522-544Google Scholar The last few years have seen a paradigm shift in the development and application of artificial intelligence (AI). This has been particularly true for life sciences and biomedical applications. In order to better understand and address COVID-19, AI has played a huge role in improving detection and therapeutic drug development. Of particular importance has been the development of multiple AI-based approaches toward improving COVID-19 detection through standard chest x-ray images.4Sekeroglu B. Ozsahin I. Detection of COVID-19 from Chest X-Ray Images Using Convolutional Neural Networks.SLAS Technol. 2020; 25: 553-565Google Scholar,5Echtioui A. Zouch W. Ghorbel M. et al.Detection Methods of COVID-19.SLAS Technol. 2020; 25: 566-572Google Scholar Applying AI toward COVID-19 diagnostics through existing standard medical imaging allows for more rapid diagnosis through telemedicine and automated tools. As AI begins to pervade every aspect of medicine, it is inevitable that advances in AI technology will be important to overcoming this pandemic. It is now clear that COVID-19 is a unique infection that affects a wide range of biological systems. One of the most affected systems has been pulmonary function. The ability to treat COVID-19 patients has often required the use of ventilators, and the lack of sufficient ventilators has been linked to poorer outcomes. The paucity of ventilators available in comparison to COVID-19 infection rates led to a number of advances in ventilator technology to increase their production speed and portability while lowering their cost.6Fang Z. Li A.I. Wang H. et al.Ambubox: A Fast-Deployable Low-Cost Ventilator for COVID-19 Emergent Care.SLAS Technol. 2020; 25: 573-584Google Scholar These advances allow patients additional time to fight off infection as well as allow emerging therapies to work. This pandemic has adversely affected the lives of so many people in so many ways. But, it has also shown that when the global community comes together to collectively address a singular problem, amazing innovations in technology can happen that provide hope for a better future after the pandemic.