Chapter 6 – Conventional extraction

Traditional extraction technologies, such as solvent extraction and steam distillation, have been used for the recovery of natural extracts from plant and animal sources for a long time. These extracts have mainly been used as food additives and medicines. Later, other more efficient and environmentally friendly methods like enzyme-, ultrasound-, and microwave-assisted extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction were developed. Following the tendency of modern society to decrease pollution, recovery of bioactive compounds from food wastes is an alternative option that adds value to such residues and at the same time decreases their environmental footprint. In this chapter, the use of well-established extraction technologies to recover bioactive compounds from food industry wastes is presented.