Underwater electrical shockwave: an emerging pretreatment for efficient extraction of plant bioactives

Underwater Electrical Shockwave (UES) is an innovative non-thermal pretreatment technology designed to enhance the extraction of plant bioactives. It offers distinct advantages over conventional methods-including superior retention of bioactivity, rapid processing times, and broad applicability to diverse materials. While promising, previous literature has lacked a comprehensive evaluation of its mechanisms, applications, and economic feasibility, particularly regarding industrial scale-up. This review comprehensively addresses these gaps by examining UES device design, enhancement mechanisms, critical operational parameters, and diverse applications, complemented by economic and comparative assessments with established pretreatment technologies. Quantitative evidence demonstrates that UES can improve extraction yields by up to 40% and reduce energy consumption by approximately 30-50% under optimized conditions (Yasuda et al. 2017). The findings highlight the significant practical implications of UES for industrial-scale applications in the food industry, presenting it as a sustainable and efficient alternative for bioactive ingredient extraction. However, significant challenges remain in scaling up this technology from laboratory proof-of-concept to robust industrial implementation. To this end, this review dedicates a section to critically analyze the challenges of industrial scaling, including engineering hurdles, economic viability, and regulatory considerations. Current challenges and future research directions are also outlined to support its broader implementation.