Authors
Katarzyna Tyśkiewicz, Marcin Konkol, Magdalena Woźniakowska
Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of New Chemical Syntheses,
corresponding author: katarzyna.tyskiewicz@ins.lukasiewicz.gov.pl
Aim of the project
Currently, there is a comeback to the traditional use of plant extracts in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. This is caused by a greater awareness among consumers who are interested in purchasing healthy food, cosmetic, and medicinal products and accept the development of sustainable agriculture in accordance with ecological production methods.
The project addresses the need to provide plant essences that are natural, health-promoting, clean, and devoid of chemicals to be used as products or feedstocks in food, supplements, brewing, pharmaceutical, or cosmetic industries. The comprehensiveness of the offer developed by Łukasiewicz – INS lies in the possibility of carrying out tests on a small scale and further production of extracts on a large scale in industrial installations with strict quality control.
Short description of the problem addressed by the project
Today’s consumers expect the best quality, clean-label, and non-modified bioproducts exhibiting natural properties and devoid of chemical additives. The technology of supercritical CO2 extraction developed by Łukasiewicz – INS is a perfect solution to address these requirements. This method uses CO2, which, under appropriate pressure conditions and at a low temperature not exceeding 50o C, reaches a supercritical state, especially without access to oxygen and light. This state allows for a selective extraction of high-purity bioactive plant compounds.
Supercritical carbon dioxide is an excellent solvent; it dissolves even the lightest fractions of essential oils, and it is inert and safe for the environment. Due to the low polarity of carbon dioxide, it is ideal for extracting compounds such as fatty acids, carotenoids, lipids, and resins. Conducting the process at relatively low temperatures protects the extracted compounds from thermal decomposition. In the extraction process, we obtain microbiologically safe products that are developed either within the scope of our R&D activity or through services offered to our clients.
Main results and achievements
The advantages of the supercritical extraction technology:
- carbon dioxide selectively extracts the active ingredients of the plant material in conditions that prevent their degradation, facilitating the preservation of the health-promoting qualities of these active ingredients;
- extracts obtained by this method do not contain organic or inorganic solvents;
- plant extracts obtained by this method are microbiologically pure, and there is no need for their subsequent purification because carbon dioxide escapes without a trace after the entire process;
- the extraction process takes place without access to oxygen, minimizing the risk of oxidative changes;
- the extraction method makes it possible to isolate bioactive substances from plants while separating contaminants, including heavy metals.
Conclusion
Due to the vast amount of waste currently generated by the agri-food industry, managing and reusing it as new products through upcycling properly is important. It is estimated that up to one-third of food produced in Europe is discarded. Thus, the utilization of the post-production waste is a critical perspective for the development of extraction technology which is of great importance from an economic and environmental point of view and is consistent with the principles of the circular economy and the concept of the so-called “green chemistry.”
The technology of supercritical CO2 extraction allows us to extract the essence of plants’ natural power. Thanks to the high concentration of bioactive compounds, our extracts have health-promoting properties and can be used in products for the most demanding consumers. They enrich the taste and smell properties of products and ensure their natural composition, but above all, they benefit our health.
Acknowledgments
We want to acknowledge the input of our Sales Manager Małgorzata Klepczyńska in developing new products and the support of the production team with Rafał Reszczyński and Dorota Kostrzewa and the R&D team with Marcin Gruba.
