Green Extraction Techniques of Bioactive Compounds: A State-of-the-Art Review

What if extracting high-value compounds could actually heal the planet instead of harming it? Driven by United Nations sustainability goals, science is completely rethinking how we harvest nature.

Conventional extraction methods carry a heavy environmental toll. Today, greener alternatives are stepping up to align with the core principles of green chemistry, utilizing unconventional techniques and eco-friendly solvents to slash ecological footprints.

Enter biorefineries. These powerhouses transform everyday biomass—such as food waste, microalgae, and lignocellulosic materials—into valuable energy, alternative fuels, and prized bioactive compounds like phenolics, pigments, and fatty acids. These treasures fuel the health, pharmaceutical, and agro-food sectors.

This state-of-the-art review brings a fresh perspective to the scientific community. By examining the greenest extraction processes across all major biorefinery biomass sources, it compares and discusses the most effective techniques for every compound, serving as a vital roadmap for future sustainable research and industrial development.

Key Points

• Green extraction aligns with United Nations sustainability goals
• Biorefineries transform food waste, microalgae, and biomass into valuable products
• Review provides a novel guide for optimized, eco-friendly extraction techniques