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Evaluating the Sustainability of Emerging Extraction Technologies for Valorization of Food Waste: Microwave, Ultrasound, Enzyme-Assisted, and Supercritical Fluid Extraction

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  • Elixabet Díaz-de-Cerio

    (Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Valladolid, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
    Institute of Sustainable Processes, University of Valladolid, Paseo del Prado de la Magdalena 3-5, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Esther Trigueros

    (Institute of Sustainable Processes, University of Valladolid, Paseo del Prado de la Magdalena 3-5, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
    Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n, 47011 Valladolid, Spain
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Food industry generates substantial waste, raising economic and environmental concerns. Green Chemistry (GC) highlights the extraction of nutritional and bioactive compounds as a key strategy for waste valorization, driving interest in sustainable methods to recover valuable compounds efficiently. This review evaluates the sustainability of widely used emerging extraction technologies—Microwave-, Ultrasound- and Enzyme-Assisted, as well as Supercritical Fluid Extraction—and their alignment with GC principles for agri-food waste valorization. It first outlines the principles, key parameters, and main advantages and limitations of each technique. Subsequently, sustainability is then assessed in selected studies using the Analytical GREEnness Metric Approach (AGREEprep). By calculating the greenness score (GS), this metric quantifies the adherence of extraction processes to sustainability standards. The analysis reveals variations within the same extraction method, influenced by solvent choice and operating conditions, as well as differences across the techniques, highlighting the importance of process design in achieving green and efficient valorization.

Suggested Citation

  • Elixabet Díaz-de-Cerio & Esther Trigueros, 2025. "Evaluating the Sustainability of Emerging Extraction Technologies for Valorization of Food Waste: Microwave, Ultrasound, Enzyme-Assisted, and Supercritical Fluid Extraction," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-45, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:19:p:2100-:d:1767701
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