A cross talk based critical analysis of solvent free microwave extraction to accentuate it as the new normal for extraction of essential oil: an attempt to overhaul the science of distillation through a comprehensive tutelage

Abstract

Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) is a sustainable non-contact heating source and has been extensively researched for extraction of plant bioactives. There are various derivatives or modules available for MAE and solvent free microwave extraction (SFME) is one of them where by operational aspects of MAE have been maneuvered to make it compatible for extraction of essential oil (EO). This article makes an attempt to overhaul the science of distillation by revisiting SFME and trying to learn through a comprehensive tutelage comprising of 20 years of published literature in Web of Science so that a shrewd decision can be obtained through a cross talk based critical analysis on the science SFME. A total of 312 articles within the time frame of 2001–2020 were extracted from WOS and critically analyzed. Considering the various uncertainties involved with SFME the articles establishes some global working standards and tries to explore the dynamic relationship between plant part/genus and microwave power, microwave power and time, microwave power and extracted volatile principles, prioritizes plant family selection and also presents a research blueprint of SFME. A techno-commercial feasibility study has been presented for smooth industrial transition of SFME. The tutelage presented decodes the publication trends and SFME blueprint.

Graphical Abtsract

Keywords:

• Essential oil
• microwave-assisted extraction
• microwave hydrodiffusion and gravity
• solvent free microwave extraction
• Web of Science

Acknowledgments

Infrastructural and ICT based support provided by Guru Ghasidas Central University (Host University), India is duly acknowledged. UGC NON-NET fellowship to Ph.D research scholar Mr. Souvik Mukherjee by host university is also deeply acknowledged. Dr. Kamal Kumar Sen of C.V Raman University, Bilaspur (C.G.) contributed in drawing computerized diagrams, his help is also duly acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest associated with this article.

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.