Innovations in Green Separation and Extraction Processes of Natural Products

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental and Green Processes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2024) | Viewed by 6037

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Chemistry Department, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
Interests: organic synthesis; isolation and determination of natural products from medicinal ‎plants; biological activities of synthesised hydrazones & their metal ‎complexes‎; synthesis of organic ligands used in determination of metal ions‎; mechanistic studies of cleavage of some organosilicon compounds

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainability, enclosed in the concept of environmental sustainability, involves different aspects, including the recycling of food and industrial waste derived from the agri-food production chain, the use of biotechnologies ensuring the sustainability of the recovery processes of bioactive compounds from food waste and, last but not least, the awareness of having to consume and waste less food and energy. The natural products present in plant and animal sources have been proved to possess a wide range of biological activities; therefore, research is needed into the application of environmentally friendly traditional and advanced techniques with low production costs in the extraction, isolation, and purification of active natural compounds from agricultural products and wastes in high yields and at maximal quality.

The design of green and sustainable extraction methods of natural products using modern technology is currently considered as a hot research topic in multidisciplinary research areas such as biology, biochemistry, the environment, chemistry, and technology. Green extraction techniques are being developed where fewer or no organic solvents are used, not only to lessen the health and environmental impacts but also to maximize the yield of desired natural products by selective extraction systems, in addition to applications of extractions of functional and natural components from various plant and/or plant materials. The extraction systems can vary according to the objective and use of the extracted and separated components. Green technologies are environmentally friendly operations that limit the negative impacts of traditional industrial activities and can contribute to addressing the challenge of sustainable management. The focus of this SI will be on the following principles: less hazardous chemical syntheses, safer chemicals’ design, safer solvents, design for energy efficiency, the use of renewable feedstocks, reduced derivatives, and design for degradation, among others.

This Special Issue on “Innovations in Green Separation and Extraction Processes of Natural Products” seeks high-quality works focusing on the latest novel advances in extraction technology and green separation. Topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Innovative and advanced green separation technologies, process intensification, agro-solvents and energy saving;
  • The use of alternative solvents and principally water or agro-solvents;
  • Obtaining non-denatured and biodegradable extract without contaminants;
  • Reducing unit operations and favouring safe, robust, and controlled processes.

Dr. Ibrahim Abu-Reidah
Prof. Dr. Mohammad Al-Nuri
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • green separation technologies
  • process intensification
  • sustainable extraction methods
  • alternative solvents

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 2623 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Antioxidant and Antibacterial Potential of Phenolic Extracts from Post-Distillation Solid Residues of Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, Lemon Balm, and Spearmint
by Elisavet Bouloumpasi, Magdalini Hatzikamari, Stamatia Christaki, Athina Lazaridou, Paschalina Chatzopoulou, Costas G. Biliaderis and Maria Irakli
Processes 2024, 12(1), 140; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12010140 - 05 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1052
Abstract
Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are potential sources of natural polyphenols. Solid residues (SRs) from the essential oil (EO) industry are produced in significant volumes and may be used as natural sources of bioactive compounds. Therefore, this work was designed to examine the [...] Read more.
Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) are potential sources of natural polyphenols. Solid residues (SRs) from the essential oil (EO) industry are produced in significant volumes and may be used as natural sources of bioactive compounds. Therefore, this work was designed to examine the antioxidant and antibacterial characteristics of phenolic extracts obtained from SRs that have remained after EO distillation. SR extracts of Greek oregano, rosemary, spearmint, lemon balm, and Greek sage were assessed for their total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus cereus in the concentration range of 500-3000 mg/L. The rosemary and Greek sage extracts exhibited the strongest antibacterial activities against all the Gram-positive species, while the spearmint and oregano extracts were less effective and only had an effect at the highest concentration used. The lemon balm extract did not show any inhibitory effect; however, it had the highest TPC, showing moderate antioxidant activity, along with spearmint. The oregano extract exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity, followed by Greek sage and rosemary. The experimental findings pointed to the potential use of extracts from post-distillation residues of MAPs as antimicrobials in the food industry, in addition to being rich sources of bioactive compounds. Full article
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11 pages, 596 KiB  
Article
Antimicrobial Potential of Tara Hydroalcoholic Extract (Caesalpinia spinosa) against Streptococcus Associated with Strep Throat
by Magaly De La Cruz-Noriega, Santiago M. Benites, Icela M. Rodríguez-Haro, Marco L. Salazar-Castillo, W. Rojas-Villacorta, N. M. Otiniano, Lizzie Karen Becerra-Gutiérrez, Luis Cabanillas-Chirinos, K. Mendoza-Villanueva and S. Rojas-Flores
Processes 2023, 11(6), 1754; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11061754 - 08 Jun 2023
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Abstract
Antibiotics are often prescribed to treat infections caused by group B Streptococcus; however, inappropriate use of antibiotics can develop resistance. Because of this, the research was carried out with the aim of evaluating the in vitro effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of Caesalpinia [...] Read more.
Antibiotics are often prescribed to treat infections caused by group B Streptococcus; however, inappropriate use of antibiotics can develop resistance. Because of this, the research was carried out with the aim of evaluating the in vitro effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of Caesalpinia spinosa (Molina) Kuntze known as Taya or Tara on the viability of β-hemolytic streptococci; an experimental investigation of increasing stimulation was carried out. The hydroalcoholic extract of C. spinosa pods was worked in concentrations of 250, 500, 750, and 1000 mg/mL, which were placed on filter paper discs to perform the sensitivity test following the Kirby–Bauer method. The greatest inhibition of bacterial viability was observed in the penicillin control group (GPT-01) followed by the TCT-04 group (hydroalcoholic Tara extract 1000 mg/mL). In addition, it was found that these groups are statistically different from the rest (p < 0.05), while the lowest bacterial inhibition was obtained for the erythromycin group and the TCT-01 group (250–1000 mg/mL). It was concluded that the hydroalcoholic extract of the pods of C. spinosa (Molina) Kuntze affects the viability of β-hemolytic streptococci associated with strep pharyngitis and that this antimicrobial activity is due to the presence of tannins, steroidal flavonoid, and alkaloids. Likewise, the tested concentrations of hydroalcoholic Tara extract were found to have better antibacterial activity than erythromycin (15 µg/mL) against β-hemolytic streptococci. These results are hopeful for the traditional or herbal medicine field. However, future in vivo research is needed to determine its effectiveness in humans. Full article
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Review

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31 pages, 2120 KiB  
Review
Emerging Trends in Green Extraction Techniques for Bioactive Natural Products
by Muhammad Usman, Mayuko Nakagawa and Shuo Cheng
Processes 2023, 11(12), 3444; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11123444 - 16 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2181
Abstract
This review explores eco-friendly methods for extracting bioactive natural products from diverse sources. The introductory exploration emphasizes the increasing demand for sustainable extraction methods, with a focus on the environmental impact of conventional approaches. Addressing existing knowledge gaps, this review outlines the key [...] Read more.
This review explores eco-friendly methods for extracting bioactive natural products from diverse sources. The introductory exploration emphasizes the increasing demand for sustainable extraction methods, with a focus on the environmental impact of conventional approaches. Addressing existing knowledge gaps, this review outlines the key objectives of evaluating various green extraction technologies, including supercritical fluid extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, enzyme-assisted extraction, and others. The primary findings underscore the remarkable potential and advancements achieved with green solvents, specifically deep eutectic solvents and bio-based solvents. This review elucidates the synergistic effects achieved by combining different extraction techniques, exemplified by ultrasound-microwave-assisted extraction and sequential supercritical fluid and pressurized liquid extraction, among others. Notwithstanding the promising results, this review emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and addressing challenges such as standardization, selectivity, scalability, and economic viability. Full article
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11 pages, 1272 KiB  
Review
Construction of a Novel Oxalic Acid Biosensor Based on the Combination of Tissue Enzyme and Peroxide Mimic Enzyme
by Abdulmoseen Segun Giwa, Ndungutse Jean Maurice and Nasir Ali
Processes 2023, 11(10), 3012; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11103012 - 19 Oct 2023
Viewed by 913
Abstract
A biosensor is considered an integrated receptor transducer device, with the ability to convert a biological impulse into an electrical signal. The amendment of biosensors has been recognized for its great potential by many researchers, due to its numerous applications e.g., environmental management, [...] Read more.
A biosensor is considered an integrated receptor transducer device, with the ability to convert a biological impulse into an electrical signal. The amendment of biosensors has been recognized for its great potential by many researchers, due to its numerous applications e.g., environmental management, disease diagnosis, agricultural aspects, food companies, health care, drug monitoring, and water treatment as it can be used in the detection of water quality. Moreover, technological development of the biosensor is integrated with several merits such as affordability and enhancement in medical fields in disease detection and body response; furthermore, it is easy to use, effective, and scalable. This article briefly reviews how to construct an oxalic acid (OA) biosensor by integration of tissue enzymes and peroxide simulated enzymes. OA is converted to peroxide (H2O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) with the help of the oxalate oxidase (OxOx) present in spinach leaves as catalyst. Afterwards, with the presence of cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4), nanoparticles (NPs) have a catalytic effect on concentrated H2O2 and chemiluminescence (CL) luminol (C8H7N3O2). Therefore, CL flow can be constructed under a biosensor to determine OA in the sample. The co-presence of tissue column and CoFe2O4, as well as a high level of relative CL intensity can be obtained. The biosensor based on H2O2 and involving inorganic nanomaterials has many advantages such as high efficiency, affordability, outstanding sensitivity, stability and selectivity, a fast response, and an extended range of linearity with a lower detection limit. In addition, optimization factors for the oxalate biosensor, limitations, and outlooks for the biosensor were also highlighted. Full article
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