Ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) of bioactive compounds from fruit and vegetable processing by-products: A review

Growing fruit and vegetable processing industries generates a huge amount of by-products in the form of seed, skin, pomace, and rind containing a substantial quantity of bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, polyphenols, carotenoids, and dietary fiber. These processing wastes are considered to be of negligible value compared to the processed fruit or vegetable due to lack of sustainable extraction technique. Conventional extraction has certain limitations in terms of time, energy, and solvent requirements. Ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) can extract bioactive components in very less time, at low temperature, with lesser energy and solvent requirement. UAE as a non-thermal extraction technique is better equipped to retain the functionality of the bioactive compounds. However, the variables associated with UAE such as frequency, power, duty cycle, temperature, time, solvent type, liquid-solid ratio needs to be understood and optimized for each by-product. This article provides a review of mechanism, concept, factor affecting extraction of bioactive compounds with particular focus on fruit and vegetable by-products.