Icon Legend

This session is not in your schedule.

This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.

274 Views

Video

Processing

Session:: General Processing - Part I - Supported by N. Hunt Moore & Associates

Towards substitution of hexane as extraction solvent of food products and ingredients with no regrets

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

2:50 PM – 3:10 PM MDT

Room: 404

Presenting Author(s)

Christian Cravotto, PhD (he/him/his)

PhD student
GREEN Extraction Team, INRAE, UMR 408, Avignon Université, F-84000 Avignon, France, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France

Slides

Co-Author(s)

AF

Anne Sylvie Fabiano-Tixier

Professor
GREEN Extraction Team, INRAE, UMR 408, Avignon Université, F-84000 Avignon, France, France
Ombéline Claux

PhD student
GREEN Extraction Team, INRAE, UMR 408, Avignon Université, F-84000 Avignon, France
Avignon, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France
MA

Maryline Abert-Vian

Professor
GREEN Extraction Team, INRAE, UMR 408, Avignon Université, F-84000 Avignon, France, France
ST

Silvia Tabasso

Professor
Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Turin, Italy, Italy
GC

Giancarlo Cravotto

Professor
Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Turin, Italy, Italy
FC

Farid Chemat

Professor
GREEN Extraction Team, INRAE, UMR 408, Avignon Université, F-84000 Avignon, France, France

Abstract: Hexane is undoubtedly the most popular solvent for the extraction of vegetable oils (especially soybean, sunflower and rapeseed oil). Hexane is also commonly used in the food industry for the extraction of other products such as fats, flavours, fragrances, colour additives or other bioactive ingredients. This solvent, and in particular the n-hexane isomer, has been shown to be neurotoxic to humans and has been listed as a cause of occupational diseases in several European countries since the 1970s. In addition, n-hexane is included on the Health Hazard Substance List in the US. However, because it is classified as a "processing aid", its use does not have to be indicated on the label under current law. Therefore, although traces of hexane are present in the final products, its use is not known to consumers. To support the European strategy for a toxic-free environment (and toxic-free food), the authors collected scientific information on this substance by reviewing the available literature. This review contains valuable information on the nature and origin of the solvent hexane, its use in the food industry, its toxicological evaluation, and possible alternatives for the extraction of natural products. Clear information about the use of hexane in food production and better communication about the toxicity of this solvent could encourage industry to switch towards one of the many other alternative extraction methods already developed. Finally, the current state of research and the feasibility of industrial application of the various alternatives to hexane will be reported.