Effectiveness of sustainable oil extraction techniques: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Essential oil is extracted from various sources including plants, oilseed, and cereals. Various alternate methods of oil extraction include soxhlet, cold press, expression, solvent extraction, hydro-distillation, subcritical extraction method, pulsed electric field (PEF), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), and Microwave assisted extraction (MAE). Supercritical fluid extraction is an efficient extraction technique for temperature-sensitive compounds that utilizes supercritical fluids under high pressure and temperature. SFE extracts essential oils resulting in high purity, and solvent-free extracts. Ultrasound assisted extraction employs ultrasonic waves to create cavitation bubbles in the extraction solvent, enhancing the penetration of the solvent into the plant matrix. MAE implements microwave energy to heat the plant material and the solvent, accelerating the extraction process. The review systematically compares these techniques based on parameters such as oil yield, pre-treatment strategies, and the physicochemical properties of the extracted oils. Furthermore, it explores the potential of utilizing different plant components beyond traditional oilseeds for essential oil extraction. This critical assessment of recent advancements underscores the relevance of these techniques for industrial applications, focusing on improving extraction efficiency, product quality, and sustainability in essential oil production from diverse botanical sources. • Plant-derived essential oils are concentrated, volatile, and aromatic. • Terpenes, aldehydes, ketones, and phenols are bioactive in essential oils. • Essential oil qualities depend on plant material, pre-treatment, and extraction. • Supercritical extraction involves 10-50 MPa pressure and 35-80 o C temperature. • Essential oils are antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant in nature.

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