A fast high-intensity pulsed electric fields (PEF)-assisted extraction of dissoluble calcium from bone

A novel high-intensity pulsed electric fields (PEF) technique for the extraction of dissoluble calcium from bone is proposed. Various experimental conditions of the PEF treatment, such as electric field strength (0–70 kV/cm), pulse numbers (0–12) and citric acid concentration (0–2%) were investigated. The results showed that the extraction content of dissoluble calcium was increased with the more pulse number and the higher electric field intensity. The most content of dissoluble calcium can be achieved at 4324.8 mg/l by PEF on the conditions of 1.25% citric acid, 70 kV/cm electric field strength and 12 pulse numbers. Comparing it with the traditional assistant extraction methods, such as the boiling method and the microwave method, the extraction time by PEF was the shortest one (pulse number C = 12) and the content of dissoluble calcium by PEF was much more. Moreover, nutriments were remained in bone. At the same time, it is a non-thermal and efficient method, which has the higher speed and consumes lower energy.