Abstract In this work, it was developed a fast, simple and selective method for quantification of genipin and geniposide from unripe fruits of genipap, which are known as natural colorants, blue and yellow, respectively. The compounds separation was performed in a fused-core C18 column using as mobile phase water (A) and acetonitrile (B) both acidified with 0.1% formic acid, with the following gradient: 0 min, 99% A; 9 min, 75% A; 10 min, 99% A and 13 min, 99% A. The temperature and flow rate that allowed the best chromatographic performance were 35 °C and 1.5 mL/min, respectively, resulting a total run time of 13 min, including column clean-up and re-equilibration. This short analysis time represents an advantage compared to the methods reported in the literature where the running times are 2-5 times greater. The detection wavelength was set at 240 nm. The method validation was performed based on specificity, linearity, detection and quantification limits, precision and accuracy, according to ICH methodology. Finally, the developed method was suitable for monitoring analysis of those compounds content in vegetable samples.

Abstract Partial-hydrothermal hydrolysis using pressurized hot water was applied in waste turmeric, derived from extraction processes that employed supercritical and pressurized fluids, as a sustainable alternative for the recovery of bioactive constituents from this material. The reaction products consisted of a liquid extract of fermentable sugars and a solid fraction, which is a mixed biopolymer with relevant composition in terms of starch and antioxidant constituents. The effects of reaction conditions on resulting products were investigated. Economic evaluation was also performed showing that application of partial-hydrothermal hydrolysis from a residual feedstock is feasible in terms of low spend of energy and materials.

Abstract The present work describes setting up a laboratory unit for supercritical fluid extraction. In addition to its construction, a survey of cost was done to compare the cost of the homemade unit with that of commercial units. The equipment was validated using an extraction of annatto seeds’ oil, and the extraction and fractionation of fennel oil were used to validate the two separators; for both systems, the solvent was carbon dioxide. The chemical profiles of annatto and fennel extracts were assessed using thin layer chromatography; the images of the chromatographic plates were processed using the free ImageJ software. The cost survey showed that the homemade equipment has a very low cost (~US$ 16,000) compared to commercial equipment. The extraction curves of annatto were similar to those obtained in the literature (yield of 3.8% oil). The separators were validated, producing both a 2.5% fraction of fennel seed extract rich in essential oils and another extract fraction composed mainly of oleoresins. The ImageJ software proved to be a low-cost tool for obtaining an initial evaluation of the chemical profile of the extracts.

Abstract In this work, a novel on-line process for production of food-grade emulsions containing oily extracts, i.e. oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions, in only one step is presented. This process has been called ESFE, Emulsions from Supercritical Fluid Extraction. With this process, emulsions containing supercritical fluid extracts can be obtained directly from plant materials. The aim in the conception of this process is to propose a new rapid way to obtain emulsions from supercritical fluid extracts. Nowadays the conventional emulsion formulation method is a two-step procedure, i.e. first supercritical fluid extraction for obtaining an extract; secondly emulsion formulation using another device. Other variation of the process was tested and successfully validated originating a new acronymed process: EPFE (Emulsions from Pressurized Fluid Extractions). Both processes exploit the supercritical CO2-essential oils miscibility, in addition, EPFE process exploits the emulsification properties of saponin-rich pressurized aqueous plant extracts. The feasibility of this latter process was demonstrated using Pfaffia glomerata roots as source of saponin-rich extract, water as extracting solvent and clove essential oil, directly extracted using supercritical CO2, as a model dispersed phase. In addition, examples of pressurized fluid-based coupled processes applied for adding value to food bioactive compounds developed in the past five years are reviewed.