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Ultrasonic Vanilla Extraction – A Non-Thermal Method

  • Vanilla extract is a flavour solution extracted from vanilla pods in a solution of ethanol and water.
  • To produce high-quality vanillin as aroma, flavour and fragrance component, an efficient, yet mild extraction technique is required to prevent decomposition.
  • Ultrasonic extraction is a mild mechanical extraction method, which gives high yields of vanillin in a very short extraction time.

High-Performance Ultrasonics for High-Quality Vanillin Extracts

As the second-most expensive spice after saffron, vanilla production requires an efficient extraction method, which prevents the degradation of the valuable essential oils. Ultrasonic extraction is well-known and established as a mild, non-thermal, yet highly efficient method to release bioactive compounds from plant material. Ultrasonic extraction is based on the phenomenon of acoustic cavitation, which is a purely mechanical treatment. This makes sonication the preferred method for the isolation of sensitive bioactive compounds such as flavours compounds and essential oils, e.g. vanillin, polyphenols, or antioxidants from botanicals.

Advantages of Ultrasonic Vanilla Extraction

  • Superior yield
  • High-speed extraction – within minutes
  • High quality extracts – mild, non-thermal
  • Green solvents (e.g. water/ethanol)
  • Cost-effective
  • Easy and safe operation
  • Low investment and operational costs
  • 24/7 operation under heavy-duty
  • Green, eco-friendly method

Ultrasonic Vanilla Extraction – in Batch or Continuous Flow Mode

Batch: Ultrasonic extraction processes can be operated as simple batch processes or as inline treatment, where the medium is continuously fed through an ultrasonic flow-through reactor.
Batch processing is an easy procedure, where the extraction is performed lot by lot. Hielscher Ultrasonics offers ultrasonic processors for small to large batches, i.e. 1L to 120L.
For processing batches of 5 to 10L, we recommend the UP400ST (400W, video below) with sonotrode S24d22L2D.

Ultrasonic Homogenizer UP400St for the agitated batch extraction of botanicals

Ultrasonic Extraction of Botanicals - 8 Liter Batch - UP400St

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For processing batches of approx. 120L, we recommend the UIP2000hdT (2kW, pic. right column at top) with sonotrode RS4d40L4.

2kW batch sonication setup for the extraction of herbal extracts

Sonicator UIP2000hdT for botanical extraction in a 120L batch

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UP400St agitated 8L extraction setup

Ultrasonic extraction of botanicals with ultrasonicator UP400St

Flow-through: For larger volumes and full-scale commercial extraction, a continuous liquid stream is fed through an ultrasonic reactor, where the solvent/botanical slurry is intensely sonicated.
For a volume of approx. 8L/min., we recommend the UIP4000hdT (4kW, pic. right) with sonotrode RS4d40L3 and pressurizable flow-cell FC130L4-3G0

Case Study of Ultrasonic Vanilla Extraction

Jadhav et al. (2009) compared ultrasonically-assisted extraction (UAE) and Soxhlet extraction. The research confirmed that ultrasonic extraction intensifies the release of vanillin significantly when compared with Soxhlet extraction. The Soxhlet treatment required operating temperature of 95°C, solvent:solute ratio of 66.67ml/g and a extraction time of 8hrs resulted in release approx. 180ppm vanillin. Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) required only 1hr to release approx. 140ppm vanillin using the same solvent:solute ratio at room temperature.
Rasoamandrary et al. (2013) compared the efficiency of vanillin extraction using a 100W probe-type ultrasonicator (e.g. UP100H), an ultrasonic bath, and a hot water bath. The researchers concluded that the probe-type ultrasonicator is a powerful extraction tool due to its high intensity ultrasonic. Therefore, the probe-type ultrasonicator outperformed the alternative extraction methods by giving similar/or higher yields of vanillin extracted in a significantly shorter extraction time and less solvent (i.e. ethanol) consumption.
The comparison of the three extraction methods – ultrasonic probe, ultrasonic bath, hot water bath extraction – showed that vanillin extraction was most efficiently for probe-sonication using 40% ethanol (v/v) at ambient temperature of 30°C and an extraction time of 1hr. The water bath extraction required a 50% ethanol (v/v) concentration at 56°C for 15hrs.

UIP4000hdT 4kW powerful ultrasonic processor for extraction

UIP4000hdT – 4kW ultrasonic extractor for continuous inline treatment.

 

In this presentation we introduce you to the manufacturing of botanical extracts. We explain the challenges of producing high-quality botanical extracts and how a sonicator can help you to overcome these challenges. This presentation will show you how ultrasonic extraction works. You will learn, what benefits you can expect using a sonicator for extraction and how you can implement an ultrasonic extractor into your extract production.

Ultrasonic Botanical Extraction - How to use sonicators to extract botanical compounds

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Ultrasonic Equipment for High Performance Extraction

Hielscher Ultrasonics is specialized in manufacturing high-performance ultrasonic processors for the production of high-quality extracts from botanicals.
Hielscher’s broad product portfolio ranges from small, powerful lab ultrasonicators to robust bench-top and fully industrial systems, which deliver high intensity ultrasound for the efficient extraction and isolation of bioactive substances (e.g. quercetin, caffeine, curcumin, terpenes etc.). All ultrasonic devices from 200W to 16,000W feature a coloured display for digital control, an integrated SD card for automatic data recording, browser remote control and many more user-friendly features. The sonotrodes and flow cells (the parts, which are in contact with the medium) can be autoclaved and are easy to clean. All our ultrasonicators are built for 24/7 operation, require low maintenance and are easy and safe to operate.
Colored touch display of the new hdT series of Hielscher's industrial ultrasonicatorsA digital colour display allows for a user-friendly control of the ultrasonicator. Our systems are capable to deliver from low up to very high amplitudes. For the extraction of polyphenols and other bioactive compounds such as vanillin, we offer special ultrasonic sonotrodes (also known as ultrasonic probes or horns) that are optimized for the sensible isolation of high-quality active substances. The robustness of Hielscher’s ultrasonic equipment allows for 24/7 operation at heavy duty and in demanding environments.
The precise control of the ultrasonic process parameters ensures reproducibility and process standardization.
The table below gives you an indication of the approximate processing capacity of our ultrasonicators:

Batch Volume Flow Rate Recommended Devices
1 to 500mL 10 to 200mL/min UP100H
10 to 2000mL 20 to 400mL/min UP200Ht, UP400St
0.1 to 20L 0.2 to 4L/min UIP2000hdT
10 to 100L 2 to 10L/min UIP4000hdT
n.a. 10 to 100L/min UIP16000
n.a. larger cluster of UIP16000

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Hielscher Ultrasonics manufactures high-performance ultrasonicators for sonochemical applications.

High-power ultrasonic processors from lab to pilot and industrial scale.



Literature/References

Facts Worth Knowing

The Working Principle of Ultrasonic Extraction

The application of intense ultrasound waves to a liquid medium results in cavitation. The phenomenon of cavitation leads locally to extreme temperatures, pressures, heating/cooling rates, pressure differentials and high shear forces in the medium. When cavitation bubbles implode on the surface of solids (such as particles, plant cells, tissues etc.), micro-jets and interparticlular collision generate effects such as surface peeling, erosion and particle breakdown. Additionally, the implosion of cavitation bubbles in liquid media create macro-turbulences and micro-mixing.

Cavitation bubbles can be differentiated in stable and transient bubbles. (Click to enlarge!)

Fig. 1: Creation of stable and transient cavitation bubbles.
(a) displacement, (b) transient cavitation, (c) stable cavitation, (d) pressure
[adapted from Santos et al. 2009]

Ultrasonic irraditation of plant material fragments the matrix of plant cells and enhances the hydration of the same. Chemat et al (2015) conclude that ultrasonic extraction of bioactive compounds from botanicals is the result of different independent or combined mechanisms including fragmentation, erosion, capillarity, detexturation, and sonoporation. These effects disrupt the cell wall, improve mass transfer by pushing solvent into the cell and sucking phyto-compound loaded solvent out, and ensure liquid movement by micro-mixing.

Ultrasonic disruptors are used for extractions from phyto sources (e.g. plants, algae, fungi)

Ultrasonic extraction from plant cells: the microscopic transverse section (TS) shows the mechanism of actions during ultrasonic extraction from cells (magnification 2000x) [resource: Vilkhu et al. 2011]

Ultrasonic extraction achieves a very rapid isolation of compounds – outperforming conventional extraction methods in shorter process time, higher yield, and at lower temperatures. As a mild mechanical treatment, ultrasound-assisted extraction avoids the thermal degradation of bioactive components and excels in comparison with other techniques such as conventional solvent extraction, hydrodistillation, or Soxhlet extraction, which are known to destruct heat-sensitive molecules. Due to these advantages, ultrasonic extraction is the preferred technique for the release of temperature-sensitive bioactive compounds from botanicals.

Vanillin

Vanilla is a valued flavour, which can be extracted from orchids of the genus Vanilla, primarily from the Mexican species, flat-leaved vanilla (V. planifolia). The uniquely flavored compounds of the vanilla orchid are found in its fruit, which results from the pollination of the flower. These seed pods are roughly a 1/3 x 6 inches, with a brownish red to black color when ripe. Inside of these pods is an oily liquid full of tiny seeds. Both the pod and the seeds are used for the production of vanillin.
Although vanillin is the primary flavour compound in the vanilla plant, pure vanilla extract contains several hundred additional flavor compounds, which contribute to its complex, deep flavor.
Vanilla essence occurs in two forms, namely real vanillin essence from the vanilla seedpod and industrially synthesized vanillin. Real seedpod extract is a complex mixture of several hundred different compounds. The chemical compound vanillin – 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde – is the major contributor to the characteristic flavor and aroma of real vanilla and is the main flavor component of cured vanilla beans. Besides vanillin, may other chemical compounds such as acetaldehyde, acetic acid, furfural, hexanoic acid, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, eugenol, methyl cinnamate, and isobutyric acid contribute to vanilla’s complex aroma.

Vanilla Cultivars

Bourbon vanilla or Bourbon-Madagascar vanilla is produced from V. planifolia plants, which grow on Indian Ocean islands such as Madagascar, the Comoros, and Réunion, formerly named the Île Bourbon. The term “Bourbon vanilla” describes also the distinctive vanilla aroma derived from V. planifolia.
Mexican vanilla, extracted from the native V. planifolia, is produced in much lower quantities. Mexican vanilla is known and marketed as vanilla from the land of its origin, since the V. planifolia plant is native to Mesoamerica.
Tahitian vanilla comes from French Polynesia, produced from the V. tahitiensis plant. Genetic analysis shows this species is possibly a cultivar from a hybrid of V. planifolia and V. odorata.
West Indian vanilla is made from V. pompona, which is grown in the Caribbean and Central and South America.

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