Effect of extraction type on the fatty acids profile and physicochemical properties of biolipids from Astrocaryum vulgare pulp: supercritical CO2 versus n-hexane extractions

This study aimed to investigate the effects of two, conventional and green, extraction techniques on the nutritional, bioactive and physicochemical properties of oils from Astrocaryum vulgare pulp. It is an Amazonian oilseed named tucuma, known by their oily nature and bioactive properties. n-Hexane (N-HE) and supercritical CO2 (SFE-CO2) were used as extraction solvents. Higher oil yield, 39.63%, was achieved using N-HE then SFE-CO2, 36.75%. The SFE-CO2 oil presented low acidity and peroxide content, 0.9 mg KOHg-1 and 1.1 mEq kg(-1), while the N-HE presented 3.25 mg KOH g(-1) and 2.4 mEq kg(-1), respectively (P < 0.05). The SFE-CO2 oil exhibited greater content of linoleic (similar to 42.3%) and oleic acids (similar to 32.6%) (P < 0.05) and higher beta-carotenes, up to 1100 mu g 100 g(-1), while the N-HE oil had similar to 877 mu g 100 g(-1). SFE-CO2 had positive effect on the physicochemical and nutritional properties of A. vulgare pulp oil, which was statistically confirmed by principal component analysis (PCA). Practical applications The application of green techniques based on supercritical CO2 fluid extraction to obtain biolipids from A. vulgare pulp with greater nutritional quality contributes to its potential utilisation as a functional ingredient in foods.

Automated summary

This study investigated the effects of two extraction techniques, conventional and green, on the properties of Astrocaryum vulgare pulp oils. It was found that the supercritical CO2 extraction had positive effects on the physicochemical and nutritional properties of the oils, making it a potential functional ingredient in foods.