Process synthesis for antioxidant polyphenolic compounds production from Matisia cordata Bonpl. (zapote) pulp

The interest on polyphenolic compounds has increased because of their possible utilization as natural food colorants, especially used as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. In the present paper, a systematic approach for process synthesis of polyphenolic compounds production from Mastisia cordata Bonpl. pulp (zapote) is presented. Simulation procedures based on experimental characterization were used to evaluate the conversion pathways of raw material pretreatment, extraction and concentration using Aspen Plus software. Process alternatives in pretreatment (tray drying and freeze drying), extraction (conventional solvent extraction and supercritical fluid extraction) and concentration (vacuum distillation and ultrafiltration with nanofiltration) were considered in this study. Productivity analysis and energy requirements for each process configuration were also determined. Process synthesis based on maximum production of polyphenolic compounds from Matisia cordata Bonpl. pulp and minimum operating costs of entire processes were performed. Based on result shown, both objective functions are contracting each other, fuzzy optimization was adapted to solve them simultaneously.