Experimental design for ultrasound-assisted extraction of Schinus terebinthifolius

The need for efficient extraction of plant constituents with a high yield and purity and limitations to conventional extraction techniques that are limited by mass transfer, has resulted in the development of new extraction processes. Sonochemistry involves cavitation induced by pressure fluctuations generated by ultrasound waves in a liquid medium. Ultrasound can be effectively used to increase the yield and the mass transfer rate in solid-liquid extraction processes. The present work employed a factorial design 33 and a central composite design (PCC) for the extraction of Schinus Terebinthifolius. It is possible to verify an optimum point for the extraction (35.24%) for a mass of 13.49 g and an extraction time of 2 h, at 60 oC.