Objective
There is a growing trend in favour of botanical extracts for a number of large-scale
uses, including flavourings, fragrances, and pharmaceutical or medicinal
preparations. Consumers are now more aware of green issues and are rejecting
artificial substances in favour of their natural alternatives. In addition, the search
for new drugs is now focusing on botanical molecules, particularly from rain forests
in developing countries. However, there are several problems associated with
conventional volume solvent extraction methods, which until now have restricted
the wider use of such substances The need to match solvent with the physical
properties of the desired extract has led to the use of environmentally damaging
organic solvents, such as dichloromethane. Residual trace organic solvents in
products can cause allergenicreactions in consumers Conventional solvent
extractions often lack specificity, and produce relatively low yields.
This project will therefore develop an extraction process which combines an initial
hydroalcoholic solvent extraction, followed by extraction with a supercritical fluid.
The second stage of this technique will use a high pressure, counter-current liquid
extraction column. This will be a non-toxic, environmentally sound process offering
high yields and specificity. The project will also develop a continuous, as opposed
to batch process. This is a necessary goal in order to achieve the greatest possible
economic viability for the system. Development of a truly continuous supercritical
fluid extraction (SFE) process has been attempted many times before, but the
associated engineering problems have curtailed such development.
The work will centre around various test botanical extracts, which have been
chosen for their commercial potential as well as for technical reasons. The
provisional list is geared towards pharmaceutical applications, as follows :
Ipecacuanha, Quinines, Quassinoids, Aryltetralin lignans, Atropines, Artemisinin,
coenzyme Q10 and SOD.
Advanced computer modelling techniques will allow optimum specification for each
extraction stage, in order to obtain maximum yields and purity, balanced with
running costs. The characterisation and analysis of extracts will be carried out
using state of the art in-line spectroscopic analytical techniques. Various
microencapsulation concepts have been developed over the past forty years.
Microencapsulation will give added value to the final products, for instance in
allowing controlled release and protection against oxidation. This project will select
and optimise processes on the basis of the physicochemical properties of the
extracts, and their eventual application.
The final aim of the project will be the development of a continuous flow, in-line
extraction and encapsulation process which will be particularly applicable to the
production of fragile botanical extracts such as enzymes. Another deliverable will
also be the test extracts themselves, which will have potential for further
commercial exploitation.
Widespread use of the technology will encourage the use of natural extracts in
place of artificial products and play a role in shifting dependence from more
environmentally damaging technologies. It is therefore estimated to produce
eventual environmental and economic benefits worth in excess of 2bn ECU to
European industry.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences electrochemistry electrolysis
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
SG5 1LY Hitchin
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.