An environment friendly extraction process of polyphenols from apple pomaces using response surface methodology

The aim of this study was evaluate the potential use of low-cost and environment friendly solvents to extract polyphenols from apple wastes for biotechnological application. Apples solid wastes from industrial transformation were used as raw material to produce extracts enriched in antioxidant polyphenols, using a green and environmental friendly solvent in a solid-liquid extraction. The reaction parameters studied were the temperature (50 and70 oC), extraction time (20 and 40 minutes), solvent ratio (ethanol:water, 20:80, 40:60, 60:40, 80:20) and solid:liquid ratio ( 2:1 and 4:1 ). Response surface methodology based on central composite design was used to assess the main impact of the different extraction factors. The phytochemical composition was assessed by HPLCDAD/VIS-UV system and the free radical scavenging activity was measured by cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) method. Our findings are important since polyphenols have an outstanding role in health area, and wide applications in food and pharmaceutical products. The optimized extraction method used in the current study might be less expensive, simple and accurate for the recovery of polyphenols based in an environmentally-friendly extraction solvent. These findings may contribute to its industrial applications for nutraceutical products development. List of abbreviations: Industrial transformation; food wastes; phytochemical recovery; green solvents; sustainability; added-value coproducts. Short title: Recovery of polyphenols from apple pomaces