Supercritical extraction of pesticides from banana: Experimental and modeling

- Supercritical carbon dioxide was able to extract pesticides from banana flour.
- The experimental results were evaluated through an experimental design.
- Temperature and pressure were statistically significant variables for the pesticides extraction.
- The best yields in pesticides extraction were obtained at higher pressures, favored by the density of the solvent.
- The extraction curves were well modeled by four different mathematical models, with a maximum deviation of 17.32%.

Banana is a tropical fruit cultivated in warm places, harvested during the whole year, produced and consumed around the world. Its productivity is affected by the vulnerability of these cultivars to some pests and diseases, and some agrochemicals are applied to avoid these attacks. However, all of them can cause serious health problems in humans such as cancer and neurological diseases. Due to that, this study evaluated the supercritical fluid in the pesticides extraction present in banana flour, based on an experimental design. The fruits were fortified with a synthetic solution containing the agrochemicals diluted in methanol. The yield of pesticides increased with the pressure increasing, and the better condition was at 500 bar and 60 °C. The experimental data were well modeled by the models of Esquível et al. (1999), Reverchon & Osseo (1994), Zeković et al. (2003) and Sovová (1999).

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