Green-sustainable extraction techniques for the recovery of antioxidant compounds from "citrus Limon" by-products

J Environ Sci Health B. 2022 Mar 11:1-13. doi: 10.1080/03601234.2022.2046993. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTIn this work, optimized techniques of conventional, ultrasound and microwave-assisted extraction were applied for the recovery of antioxidant compounds from lemon by-products (Citrus limon L). Specifically, the effect of solvent, temperature, microwave power, time and their interaction on the extraction was investigated. Among the tested solvents, the hydroalcoholic mixture (ethanol:water, 50:50) was the optimal one for all extraction techniques: in particular assisted by ultrasounds at 70 °C for 30 minutes (total phenolic content: 6.93 mg GAE g-1, total flavonoids: 2.07 mg CE g-1, ABTS assay: 18.36 µM TE g-1). Also, the other techniques allowed to obtain valuable extracts, although with relative lower amounts. The analyses of individual phenols revealed hesperidin and eriocitrin as the main compounds (respectively about 1650 and 1150 mg kg-1) after ultrasound assisted and conventional extraction. Results of this work can be useful to valorize an industrial by-product by sustainable techniques for the high-added value substances recovery.PMID:35277119 | DOI:10.1080/03601234.2022.2046993
Source: Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Part. B, Pesticides, Food Contaminants, and Agricultural Wastes - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: research