Ultrasound Extraction: what is it and how does it work?
Ultrasound extraction is a process that enables the extraction of the active compounds contained in the plant by harnessing the mechanical action of ultrasound waves on plant cell walls.
Ultrasound extraction is an innovative, clean technique that is easy and quick to perform, allowing the active compounds to be extracted from plants, particularly medicinal plants and high-quality botanical extracts to be produced, by harnessing the exclusively mechanical action of the cavitation effect produced by sound waves.
Ultrasound Extraction: why is it considered BIO?
This extraction technique also has the advantage of being eligible for Bio certification, as this extraction is a purely physical process in which no chemical products are used or added.
Natural solvents are used (oil, water and alcohol), regardless of the solubility of the active compounds.
What are the advantages of Ultrasound Extraction?
According to numerous researchers, ultrasound extraction technology, due to its versatility, is destined to play an important role in the future of extraction technologies.
extraction usingUltrasound extraction is considered more functional than classic hydroalcoholic extraction because:
- are obtained very satisfactory yields in terms of active compounds, as there is an almost total depletion of the plant material.
- Significant reduction in production times because ultrasound waves, by breaking down cell walls, reduce the time required for the active compounds to transfer from the plant material to the solvent.
- Furthermore, as mentioned previously, it is a much more “green” extraction technique that has been awarded anOrganic accreditation as this extraction is a purely physical process in which no chemicals are used or added.
- Full-Spectrum extracts are obtained.
- Water, as a solvent, is particularly compatible with and favorable to this extraction process because it selectively conveys ultrasound to act on the plant matrix; this produces the maximum extraction effect and extracts with an almost complete biochemical spectrum, closely resembling that present inside the processed plant raw material, whether fresh or dried
- The speed of extraction drastically reduces oxidative and fermentation processes
- It reduces the bacterial load because cavitation causes the lysis of cell membranes in microorganisms, making the product hygienically compliant
How Does Ultrasound Extraction Work?
The extraction takes place through the creation of stretching forces that cause the disintegration and mechanical rupture of cell walls, promoting the release of material from the cytoplasm.
Additionally, reducing the particle size significantly increases the solid/liquid contact surface, while the mechanical action performed by ultrasound increases solvent diffusion into the tissues and breaks down cell walls through cavitation and stretching forces.
The mechanical effects of cavitation induced by ultrasound, such as heat and pressure differentials, shock waves, shear forces, liquid jets, and microflow, intensify the penetration of the solvent into the cell and improve mass transfer between the cell and the solvent so that intercellular materials are transferred into the solvent.
The use of ultrasound enables the complete extraction of all the active ingredients contained in the plant (whether water-soluble, fat-soluble, essential oils, mineral salts, amino acids, trace elements, or vitamins) without the use of heat or solvents, thereby preserving the integrity of the phytocomplex, which is transferred entirely to the water.
Alcohol-Free Mother Tincture
Thanks to the innovative ultrasonic extraction process, it has become possible to produce alcohol-free extracts and Mother Tinctures using other natural solvents together with water (such as glycerin)
The glycerin-based Mother Tincture (and therefore alcohol-free) is an innovative type of Mother Tincture which, having been obtained through the ultrasonic process, is better from several points of view.
At Vonderweid, thanks to our twenty years of experience in the field of Food Supplements and following an extensive process of research and development in our laboratories for the production of alcohol-free Mother Tinctures, we have succeeded in obtaining a product with the desired characteristics.
Our alcohol-free Mother Tinctures are classified as Food Supplements and are regularly notified to the Ministry of Health.
