Supercritical technology applied to the processing of essential oils, vegetable oils, pigments, stevia, starch, cellulose and other natural products

Abstract

Brazil is large producer of condiments, aromatic herbs, roots and tropical fruits used by the food, the pharmaceutical, and the cosmetic industries. Some of these products are used locally, while others are exported. Among the exporting products can be mentioned black pepper, clove buds, ginger, etc. Essential oils and oleoresins of vetiver, eucalyptus, cinnamon, mint, and so on are exported. The country is also a large producer of stevia, a plant whose aqueous extract has being used for years as a sucrose substitute in special diets. Besides that, several other plants possess lipids, starch, and cellulose that can be potentially economically explored. Examples of these are turmeric, saffron, pupunha, bacuri, etc. The competition among countries for the market conquest is difficult, and the success of the commercilization bases on three factors: quality, availability and price. In an attempt to best assist to these requirements, studies are developed in different areas such as genetic improvement and agricultural techniques as well as on new processing technologies. Questions related to the use of techniques that avoid or minimize damages to the environment are been debated at the end of this century. Supercritical technology embodies processes that use as solvent of extraction gases at high pressures (carbon dioxide being the most important example), or pressurized fluids (water used in hydrolysis reactions) are known as clean processes. Products obtained using this technique are free of toxic residues and generally possess high quality when compared to products obtained by conventional techniques. The consumers' demands indicate that in near future products of better quality well be requested more and more. This tendency can be explored thoroughly by countries such as Brazil. But, to take advantage of its potential, the country needs to develop and/or to adapt technologies that are economically viable and ecologically correct. With the objective to contribute for the scientific and technological development of Brazil a group of scientist formed the Research Group 'SuperNat - Supercritical Technology Applied to the Processing of Natural Products, which includes several Brazillian research Institutions. Its objectives are the study of supercritical technology applied to the processing of natural products for the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and fine chemistry industries... (AU)