engleski

The life cycle assessment of nonthermal food extraction technologies

Food production system has a significant impact on the environment. Conventional thermal methods are mostly used in the food industry for their efficacy and safety. Such technologies are based on the indirect heat transference into the product by conduction and convection principles, using a heating medium generated by combustion of fossil fuels. This processing often demands some restrictions and energy inefficiencies that derive from slow heat conduction, heat losses through the equipment surfaces and thermal damage conducted by overheating. Not only that excessive heat treatment lead to a considerable consumption of natural resources, but also cause undesirable protein denaturation and loss of valuable bioactive compounds leading to degradation of food quality and accordingly reducing the efficiency of food chain [1]. Thermal preservation treatment has been highlighted as one of the most energy consuming stages in food processing sector [2]. With the aim of protecting and preserving the environment, scientists are finding new methods for food processing that are within principles of the sustainable development [3]. Novel nonthermal techniques use less energy and chemicals, reduce processing time, impact less on the environment (lower carbon footprint), produce less waste and have a potential for industrial scale-up. Also, conventionally used organic solvents for extraction are replaced by water or other environmentally acceptable green solvents. These nonthermal techniques include: pulsed electric fields (PEF), high-pressure processing (HPP), high-voltage electrical discharge (HVED), pulsed light (PL), irradiation (IRR), ultrasound (US) and ultraviolet light (UV) [4]. Our focus is directed towards the use of nonthermal technologies for “green” and sustainable extraction of natural compounds from various food sources, mostly plants. As usage of nonthermal technologies should have aim to achieve sustainable development and reduce impact on the environment, comparing with conventional extraction methods, our goal is to present their environmental impact. The life cycle assessment (LCA) is a promising tool for assessing the environmental impact associated with a product, process or activity [5]. LCA combines environmental accounting and management approach that considers all the aspects of resource use and environmental releases associated with an industrial system. Specifically, it is a holistic view of environmental interactions that cover a range of activities, from the extraction of raw materials and the production of energy, through the use, reuse, and final disposal of a product [6]. The goal is to implement LCA to nonthermal extractions and to measure the environmental impact of the whole process, covering their life cycle from raw material extraction to waste treatment. The aim of the study is to identify potential improvements for each nonthermal technology and to provide an environmental assessment when selecting a technology for extractions. Results should present the potential of replacing thermal extraction methods with nonthermal one and measure the return of investment as an important investing factor for industries.

Sustainable development ; Life cycle assessment ; Nonthermal technologies ; Environment ; Waste management

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