Evaluation of the environment impact of extraction of bioactive compounds from Darcyodes rostrata using deep eutectic solvent (DES) using life cycle assessment (LCA)

Polyphenols, the most abundant and naturally occurring antioxidants, was found to be the highest in Dacryodes rostrata seed as compared to the peel and pulp of the fruit. Growing technologies in the past decades have led to the interest of reviewing and developing environmental-friendly green extraction solvent, as the commonly used conventional solvent imposing various risks to human health and environment. An environmental-friendly extraction technique was established using deep eutectic solvent (DES) as the alternative extraction solvent has been considered. The main objective of this study was to analyse the environmental impact and performance of laboratory processes for phenolic compounds extraction from D. rostrata peel using different solvent, by means of life cycle assessment (LCA). A comparative analysis was carried out to evaluate the environmental impacts caused by both solvents, DES and conventional organic solvent, ethanol. The functional unit (FU) was defined as 104.6 mg of extracted polyphenols, measured as gallic acid equivalents (mg GAE)/g dw of D. rostrata seed used. The variation of environmental impacts between DES and ethanol as a function of optimum process conditions (temperature, time, solid/liquid ratio, and water addition) was evaluated. According to the environmental profile analyzed, the well-developed ethanol exerted lower impact and energy consumptions as compared to the environmental-friendly green solvent, DES. Besides, transport activities and electricity consumptions from the extraction process was identified contributing highest environment impact.