Sonication Based Novel Technologies for Intensified Extraction of Edible Oils: A Review

Ultrasound is a sustainable approach that can be applied to intensify the conventional extraction technology in terms of higher yield (%) and shorter extraction time when performed at optimized operating conditions. Taking into account the growing importance of sonication-based extraction technology in industries, the present review elucidates critical considerations on the sonication-based mechanism for extraction, the importance of solvent and its interaction with acoustic energy during extraction, reactor designs for lab, pilot, and industrial scale extraction, as well as the impact of sonication operating parameters on the extraction performance. The effect of combining sonication with other novel technologies is also discussed in brief for easy understanding of lipid scientists and entrepreneurs. The cavitational events enhance the liquid circulation and generate turbulence that improves the rate of mass transfer in the extraction process, leading to intensification. The low-temperature operation coupled with the low frequency and low-intensity approach of the sonication-based technologies can lead to higher exploitation of this technology for the extraction of oil from the seeds. Overall, sonication offers significant potential for application in the oil industry, although with the requirement of optimization of operating and geometric parameters.