Extraction of valuable compounds from granadilla (Passiflora ligularis Juss) peel using pressurized fluids technologies

Valuable products, including carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and pectin were obtained from granadilla peel using green technologies based on pressurized fluids. The processes of pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and CO2-expanded ethanol (GXE) were evaluated to recover the carotenoids and phenolic compounds, while pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) was evaluated to extract pectin from the granadilla peel. The results demonstrated that although PLE and GXE had no significant difference in the carotenoids yield and antioxidant activity of the extracts obtained, PLE was faster than GXE to achieve the highest extraction yield. The pectin yield obtained by PHWE was affected by the process temperature with the highest value obtained at 160 & DEG;C. Further studies are needed to characterize the chemical composition of the pectin obtained, but the present results enable establishing a biorefinery for the complete use of granadilla wastes (seeds and peel).