SOLID-LIQUID EXTRACTION KINETICS OF POLYPHENOLS FROM CASHEW (Anacardium occidentale L.) BAGASSE

Cashew bagasse consists of a residual food-processing material, rich in polyphenols. The aim of the present study was to investigate the kinetic of phenolics compounds recovery from cashew bagasse by hydroethanolic extraction. Process was carried out at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 minutes in a shaker at 50 °C and 90 min -1 . An ethanol aqueous mixture (50 %, w/w) was chosen as solvent and a 2:1 solvent/bagasse ratio (w/w) was selected according to previous studies. The results showed that a period of 80 minutes was suitable to achieve the highest total phenolic content in the extracts (636.0 mg GAE.100g -1 ). Experimental data were fitted to Fick ́s second law and a mathematical model with high regression coefficient (R 2 = 0.94) was obtained. The effective diffusivity (3.68 × 10 -10 m2.s -1 ) was in accordance to other studies reported in the literature. These results suggest the potential of cashew bagasse as a natural and low cost polyphenols source for application in food or pharmaceutical industries. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: fenólicos; extração sólido-líquido; biomassa.