resumo
The interest in using essential oils for biotechnological and biomedical applications has been increasing because of their unique properties, such as their roles as preservatives, antioxidants, antimicrobial agents, and therapeutic agents, with oregano oil being a notable example. However, the bioactivity and stability of oregano oil can be compromised because of its volatile nature and external factors like exposure to light, heat, or oxygen. To protect oregano oil from these adverse effects and enhance its potential, microencapsulation has been employed. Nevertheless, studies evaluating the economic feasibility of this process are still limited. In this context, this study combines an environmental impact assessment by applying the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology and an economic evaluation of three different scenarios (A, B, and C) for the production of oregano oil microparticles by a spray dryer. In Scenario A, only modified starch was used to prepare the emulsion; in Scenario B, the modified starch was replaced with gum arabic; and in Scenario C, the gum arabic, maltodextrin, and modified starch were combined. The results indicated that Scenario B presents the best environmental performance for all impact categories analyzed (global warming, fossil resource scarcity, mineral resource scarcity, terrestrial acidification, freshwater eutrophication, and marine eutrophication). However, the composting of bio-waste end-of-life presents better environmental performance for the other scenarios (A and C). In Scenario B, the process with the lowest production cost per gram of microcapsules is the most promising for meeting the demands of the aspects analyzed.
palavras-chave
MICROENCAPSULATION; INGREDIENTS; ANTIOXIDANT; STARCH
categoria
Science & Technology - Other Topics; Environmental Sciences & Ecology
autores
Carvalho, HJM; Sosa, FHB; Quinteiro, P; Dias, AC; Torres-Acosta, MA; Santos, JHPM; da Costa, JMG
nossos autores
Filipe Hobi Bordon Sosa
Investigador Júnior
João Henrique Picado Madalena Santos
Estudante de doutoramentoagradecimentos
The authors would like to acknowledge the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)/MCTES for the financial support to CESAM (UIDP/50017/2020+UIDB/50017/2020+LA/P/0094/2020) through national funds. Paula Quinteiro, Ana Claudia Dias and Filipe Hobi Bordon Sosa also thank FCT/MCTES for contracts CEECIND/00143/2017, CEECIND/02174/2017 and CEECIND/07209/2022, respectively. The authors also wish to thank FAPEMIG (Project Universal APQ-03329-16), CAPES, CNPq and the Institute of Science and Technology (UFVJM) for supporting this study.