Production of phenolic and glucosinolate extracts from rocket salad by supercritical fluid extraction: Process design and cost benefits analysis. (January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Solana, M.; Mirofci, S.; Bertucco, A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of food engineering. Volume 168(2016:Jan.)
• Page Start: 35
• Page End: 41
• Publication Date: 2016-01
• Subjects: Supercritical fluid extraction -- Rocket salad -- Large scale production -- Process design -- Cost benefits analysis; Food industry and trade -- Periodicals; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Analyse -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Recherche -- Périodiques; 664.005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2015.07.017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0260-8774

Abstract

Highlights: A large scale SFE process to obtain natural extracts from rocket salad is developed. A novel methodology based on experimental data and empirical equations is applied. The lowest extraction operating costs are obtained at 25 MPa and 75 °C. Economic analysis shows that raw materials account for 67% of the production costs. 21.9 US$ kg −1 is the breakpoint value for the price of the natural extract. Abstract: A profitability analysis of a large scale supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) process to obtain natural extracts from rocket salad is presented in this work. An industrial-scale SFE plant is designed using process simulation techniques based on experimental data. Afterward, the effect of operative parameters on the process costs is evaluated. At the optimum conditions, the economic and financial analysis is performed, and the influence of the price of rocket salad on the price of the natural extract is assessed. Results indicate that the raw materials account for 67% of the total production costs. The proposed industrial application could be economically viable with a pay-back period of 10 years if the price of the rocket salad extract is larger than 21.9 US$ kg −1, considering the current wholesale price in the market, or 17.0 US$ kg −1 if using non-saleable rocket salad. Both scenarios make the process economically sustainable and competitive with the current price of natural extracts obtained by extraction with organic solvents.